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C.WIIN6ER 
RARE  BOOKS 
WTTSIUE.  Pi 


DUKE  UNIVERSITY 


LIBRARY 


The  Glenn  Negley  Collection 
of  Utopian  Literature 


I 


T  H  E 

ADVENTURES 


O     F 


Slgnor  Gaudentio  di  Lucca. 

BEING 
THE  SUBSTANCE  OF  HIS  EXAMINATION  BEFORE  THE  FATHERS 

OF       THE 

INQUISITION, 

AT    BOLOGNA,   IN    ITALY. 
GIVING    AN    ACCOUNT     QF 

AN  UNKNOWN  COUNTRY 

a-N  THE  MIDST  OF  THE    DESARTS    OF  AFRICA, 
COPIED     FROM    THE 

Original  Manuscript  In  St,  Mark^s  Library^  at  Venice* 

WITH    CaiTiCAL    NOTES 
BY  THE 

LEARNED  SIGNOR  RHEDI, 

Translated  from  the  Italian. 

WILMINGTON, 

Printed  and  fold  by  BONSAL  ^  NILES* 

i8ooi 


\^  => ',  <  ^     .  RISK 

Ct"^'^       '  INTRODUCTION.       B^WPrC    ^\ 

,.  grew  in  prodigious  reqaeft.  They  faid  he  had  a  fweetnefs 
and  eafe  in  converfation,  that  was  ahnoit  bewitching.  This 
unaccountable  fondnefs  of  the  ladies  gave  us  the  firit  fufpici- 

,  on^  left  he  fhould  inftil  fome  ill  notions  into  that  fex,  fo  credu- 
lous where  they  are  fond,  and  fo  incredulous  where  they  dif^ 
like.     He  profefled  hinifelf  a  Roman  Catholic  ;    feemed  to 

.have  a  competent  knowledge,  and  even  veneration,  confider- 

.  jng  he  was  a  phyfician,  for  our  holy  myfteries :    fo  we  had 

^  nothing  againft  him  on  that  account.  We  could  not  find 
that  he  wanted  for  money,  though  he  lived  rather  genteelly 

.  than  magnificently  :  we  found  on  feveral  occafions,  that  mo- 
ney, the  idol  of  other  people,  was  the  leaft  of  his  care  ;  and 

.  that  he  had  fome  fecret  fprings  we  could  not  fathom.  His 
houfc  was  but  decently,  though  compleatly,  furnifhed  for 
one  of  his  rank  ;  he  kept  two  fervants  in  livery  and  a  valet 
de  chambre  ;  who,  being  of  this  town,  knew  no  more  of  him 
tlian  we  did.  There  was  an  elderly  lady  we  thought  had 
been  his  wife,  but  it  proved  (he  was  not ;  a  foreigner,  for 
whom  we  feemed  to  have  a  great  rerpe<Sl,  and  her  maid  a 

,£Dreigner  al&  ;  and  an  elderly  raaid-fervant  of  the  town. — * 
We  have  them  all  fecured  in  the  Inquificion,  though  he  does 
not  know  it.     The  lady  has  the  remains  of  a  wonderful  fine 

-.face,  and  an  air  of  quality ;  (he  fpeaks  a  broken  Italian,  fo 
that  we  can  get  very  little  out  of  h^r,  but  what  agrees  with 
his  account.  I  am  confident  you  will  rather  be  pleafed  with 
thefe  particulars  than  think  them  tedious.  There  is  fome- 
thing  fo  extraordinary  in  the  man,  I  ought  not  to  omit  tke 
leaft  circimiftance  ;  we  had  feveral  confultations  about  hijii 
in  our  Inquifition,  as  well  as  our  Leiger  intelligences,  but 

^ could  difcover  nothing  of  moment.  We  examined  what  in- 
tercourfe  he  had  in  other  parts,  by  ordeijng  the  poft-mafter 
-Xo  fend  us  all  his  letters,  which  we  could  ealily  open,  and  feal 
up  again  with  the  greateft  nicety.  But  we  found  he  had 
only  two  correfpondents,  one  pofleffed  of  a  moderate  income 
of  about  four  thoufand  crowns  in  the  bank  of  Genoa  ;  the 
other  a  lady  of  your  city  of  Venice,  whom  we  difcovered  to 
.be  a  celebrated  courtezan,  who  fublcribes  herfelf  Fayilla.— 
We  find  by  her  laft  letcer,  that  he  had  given  her  very  good 
advice,  and  perfuaded  her  to  become  a  penitent ;  you'll  o- 
i)lige  us  if  you  will  enquire  what  ftie  is#  Amorous  intrigues 
not  falling  under  our  cognizance,  we  let  him  alone  *  for  fonie 

275589 


-Xii  INTRODUCTIOM. 

rime,  having  a  perfon  under  our  examination  on  fufpicion  6f 
being  a  Jew  in  mafquernde,  and  a  Spy  from  the  Grand  Sig- 
nor,  Nvho  kept  us  employ*d   lor    fonie    time.     Befides,  t}»e 
good  advice  he  j»ave   the  ccurteznn,  and  lie  being  pafl   his 
prime,  made  us  lefs  fufpicious  of  ilie  ladies  ;  we  fupjwledthey 
had  rccourfe  to  him  on  account  of  fome   female    infirmities. 
Though  the  young  ladies  were  mofl  fond  of  him,  his  behavi- 
our to  them  was  more  an  endearing  fwcetnef^  and  c  urtefy, 
thnn  love,  ^\ith  very  little  figns,  at  leafl  he  had  the    addrefs 
to  conceal  them,  of  m  more  kindnefs  for  one  tlian  another. 
In  fine,  pcifonsofthe  befl  rank,  of  both  fexes,  began  to  have 
a  prrdigious  liking  for  his  company;  he  Hole  upon  them    in- 
fenfibly.     As  he  incrcafcd  in  this   good  opinion,  he  opened 
himfelf  with  greater  freedom  ;  he  made  no  (hew  at   all  at 
firft,  nsore  than  a  fine  prefence  and  polite  addrsfs  :  but  alter 
further  acquaintance,  they  difcovered  he  was  mafler  of  niofl 
fcicnces,  and  fliewed  a   fuperior  genius  in   any  thing  they 
could  difcourfc  of.     We  employed  proper  ]»er(bns  to  infniu- 
ate    themfelves  into  his    good  liking,  and  ccnfult  him  as  a 
friend  onfevcral  nice  points  ;  but  he  had  fuch  a  prefence  of 
mind,  yet  appeared  fo   uriconflraincd   in    his   difcouife,  that 
the)' owned  tlieitifelvcs  novices  in   comnarifon    to    him.     If 
they  talked  of  politicks,  lie  faid  very  judicionfly,  it  was  not 
for  men  of  his  rank  toirseddle  with  affairs  of  f^ate,  or  examine 
•what  perfons  did  in  tlie  cabinet.     Jf  of  religion,   he  feemed 
to  underfland  it  very  welf  for  one  of  his  profefTio'i  ;   fo  that 
nothing  came  from  him  but  what  was  confonant  to  the    Ca- 
tholic faith  ;   exprcfTing   on   all   orcafions  a  great  deference 
"t'jrthe  autliority  of  the  Cimrch.     Rut  Oil!   the  more  figaci- 
o  IS  were  perfuadfd  fometiiing  more  than  ordinary    lay    hid 
inder  that  fjK'rioiis  cover.     At  length,  talking  one  day  with 
fome  of  on   fpies  about  the  ouftoms  of  foreign  countries,  he 
faid,   he  had   met   with  a   nation   in  one  of  the    remoteft 
parts  of  the  world,  who,  though  they  were  Heathens,  had 
more  knowledge  of  tk.c  law  of  nature  and  common  morality, 
than  the  moft  civilized   Chriflians.     This  was  immediately 
carried  to  us,  and  explained  as  a  refle(f\ion   on  the   Chriflian 
religion.     Another  ti.iie,  as  he  had   a   great  knowledge  in 
philofophy,  he  dropt  fome  words  as  if  he    had  fome  ikill  in 
judiciary  af^rology;  which  you  know,  Sir,  is  a  capital  crime 
"with  us.     We  were  as  good  as  refolved  to  feize  him,  wlrett 


INTRODUCTION.  xli 

we  were  determined  to  It  by  the  following  acci'.lent.  Two 
of  the  mod  beautiful  women  in  all  Bologna  had  fallen  in 
love  with  him,  either  on  account  of  the  handfomnefs  of  his 
perfon,  or,  by  a  whimncalnels  peculiar  to  fome  women,  be- 
caufe  lie  was  a  Granger,  or  thinking  he  might  keep  their 
fecrets  better  under  the  cloak  of  being  a  phyfician  ;  or,  in 
fine,  drawn  in  by  fome  love  potion  or  other,  we  cannot  tell ; 
but  tlie  matter  grew  to  fuch  a  height,  that  on  his  Iliewing 
more  diftinguifhing  favour  to  one  of  them,  9S  it  is  natural 
for  our  women  to  be  violent  in  their  jealoufy,  as  well  as 
love,  the  other,  to  be  revenged,  laid  he  had  bewithed  her; 
which  file  was  fure  of,  for  that,  fince  the  very  firfl:  time  (lie 
faw  him,  (lie  thought  there  was  foraething  more  In  him  than 
ever  flie  faw  In  any  man  in  her  life.  Befidcs,  fhe  fiid,  (he 
had  often  found  him  drawing  circles  and  figures  on  paper, 
which  to  her  looked  like  conjuration.  Her  friends  imme- 
diately informed  our  fathers  of  it ;  fo  we  refolved  to  feize 
him,  if  it  were  but  to  find  out  his  fecrets,  and  fee  what  the 
man  was.  There  was  another  reafori  induced  us  to  it,  which 
the  world  will  hardly  believe,  though  it  is  matter  of  fad\  : 
that  is,  we  were  afraid,  the  man  would  be  aflaflinated  by 
fome  fecret  mesns  or  other,  for  being  fo  great  with  our  la- 
dies ;  f0,  to  fave  his  life,  and  not  loi'e  the  difcoveries  we 
expected  from  hira,  it  was  determined  he  fliould  be  feiKed  im- 
mediately. Accordingly,  I  was  deputed,  with  three  under- 
officers,  todo  the  bufmefs,  but  with  all  the  caution  and  fe- 
crecy  ufual  in  fuch  cafes.  It  was  done  about  midnight, 
yvhtn  we  had  watched  one  of  the  two  ladles  he  favoured 
inoft,  into  his  houfe.  We  went  in  a  cU-Te  coach,  and  my- 
felf  and  one  of  the  officers  flopping  at  the  door,  as  foon  as 
the  fervant  opened  it,  fleppeu  in,  telling  him  what  we  were, 
and  charging  him,  at  his  peril,  not  to  make  the  leaft  noife.— 
The  Icrvant?  being  Italians,  and  knowing  the  confequence  of 
theleaft  refinance,  flood  as  mute  as  fiJhes.  We  immediate- 
ly went  into  the  inner  pailour,  and,  contrary  to  our  expecla- 
tion,  found  our  gentleman,  the  young  lady  with  her  gcver- 
nante,  and  the  elderly  lady  that  belonged  to  him,  fitting  ve- 
ry decently  at  an  elegant  collation  of  fruits  and  fwcetmeats, 
brought  as  ^ye  fuppofed  by  the  fair  lady  as  a  prefent.  At 
our  firfl  appearance,  he  feemed  more  furprized  than  terrified  • 
as  we  niak«  no  ceremonies  in  thofe  cafes,   we  told  hini  our 

B 


275589 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

errand,  and  commanded  liini  to  come  along  with  us  withoi;t 
t!ie  leafl  rcfiflaixc,  or  clfe  it  fliouid  be  the  worfe  for  him.— r 
Then  we  turred  to  tie  young  lady,  whofc  friends  and  perfon 
Ave  kr.ew,  and  told  her  we  wondered  to  find  her  in  fuch  com- 
pany, at  fuch  unfcufonablc    hours  ;    but   on    account  of  her 
Iricnus  would  not  meddle  wiih  her,  but  bid  her,  fjr  her  own 
fake,  as  flie  tendered  iier  life  and  honour,   never  to  take  the 
leaR  Rotice  of  tlie  afiair.     She  tremblii^g.  ar.d  ready  to  faint 
a'.vav,  after  fome  l.cfitation,  was  able  to  fay,  that    flie    was 
come  to  confult  itbout  her  health  ;  that  Hie  brought  her  go* 
vernante  along  with  her  to  take  off  all  fufpicion,  and  as  flie 
Avasm-flrefs  of  herfclf  and   fjrtup.e,  it  was  njt    unufual    fur 
perfons  of  her  rank  tobe  out  at  that  time,    confidcring   the 
hc:it  of  the  feafon.     She  had  fcarce  pronounced  ihefe  words, 
>vheH  fi:e  fell  dircifllv  into  a  fwoon.     Her  govcrnante  hav- 
ing things  proper  for  fuch  occafions,  revived  and  comforted 
her  as  well  as  fl-.e  could.     But  when  we  were  going  to  take 
tke  gentleman  along  with  us.  tlie  elderly  lady,  to  whom  we 
fuppofed  he  had  told  his  misfortunes,  inftead  of  falling-  into 
fits,  flew  at  us  like  atigrcfs,  wiih  a  fury  I  never   faw  in  any 
human  creature  in  my  life  ;  tearii^.g  at  us  with  l:cr  nails  and 
teeth,  as  if  (lie  had  been  in  the  moft  raging  madnefs.     W9, 
notaccuftomed  to  rcfiflance,  confidering  our  character    nn^ 
cloth,  and  flie  a  woman,  were  almoft  mctionlefs,   when  the 
fervants  at  tlie  noife  came  up.     We  commanded  them,    in 
the  name  of  the  Inqnifition,  to  feize  her  ;  the  gentlemen  ig- 
terpofed  in  our  favour,  faying  fome  words  to  lier  in    an  un- 
known language,  which  he  alTured  us,  wcie  to  beg  her  to  be 
pacified,  as  (he  tendered  his  lU'c  as  well  a?    her  own  ;  then 
the  violei'cc  of  l-.er    palTion  turned  another  way,  and  threw 
lier  into  the  flrongell  convuKinns  I  ever  faw.     By  this  time 
t'le  other  two  officers  were  i  ome  up,  wondering  at   our   de- 
lay, and  to  fr.id  refii'lance  agajnd  the  officers  of  the    Inquifi- 
tion.     The  gentleman,  wiih  a   becoming  fubmiffion,    rather 
than  fear,  yielded  hinjfelf apt ifoner,  and  begged  us  to  par- 
don the  fudden  tranfports  tfa  perfon  unacquainted  with  our 
cuQoms,  whufe  life  in  fome  manner  depended  on  his.     That 
Ihe  was  a  Perfian  lady  of  quality,  brought  into  this  country 
by  great  misfortunes,  who  had  once  faved  his  life,  as  he  h^d 
been  afterwards  inOrumental  in  faving  her's.     1  hat  flie  was 
(iifpofed  to  turn  Clniflian,  with  intention,  after  Jbmc  th:ie| 


INTRODUCTION.  xv 

t6  end  her  days  in  a  convent.  That  for  his  own  partj  relying 
on  his  innocence,  he  readily  fubmitted  to  our  authority,  and 
offered  himfelf  to  be  carried  wherever  we  pleafed  ;  he  ut-^ 
tered  all  this  with  an  air  of  conftancy  that  was  fiirprizing.— 
We  immediately  took  him  into  the  coach,  leaving  two  of 
the  officers  with  the  elderly  lady,  and  commanding  them 
and  the  gentleman's  fervants  not  to  (lir  out  of  the  room  till 
further  orders.  As  foon  as  we  arrived  at  the  Inquifition,  we 
lodged  him  in  a  jiandfome  firong  room  ;  not  fo  much  like  a 
criminal,  as  like  a  perfon  for  whom  we  had  fame  refpecfl. 
There  we  left  him  to  his  own  thouglits,  and  returned  to  his 
houfe  to  feize  the  elderly  lady  and  his  papers,  having  dif- 
miiTedthe  young  lady  and  her  govemante  before.  1  forgot 
to  tell  you,  that  Signor  Gaudentio,  by  our  permifTion,  liad 
fpoke  to  the  elderly  lady  coming  out  of  her  fits  in  Italian, 
(for  we  would  not  let  himfpeak  to  her  in  the  unknown  lan- 
guage, for  fear  of  a  combination)  and  wi:h  much  pains  he 
made  her  underfland,  that  he  begged  her  by  all  that  was 
clear,  to  fubmit  to  whatever  we  Ihould  enjoin  her;  affuring 
"her  by  that  means  all  would  be  well  for  her  fafety  and  his 
own  :  which  laft  words  fee  in  ed  to  give  fome  calm  to  her  tem- 
pefluous  fpirits.  You  may  believe,  Sir,  we  were  much  fur- 
prized  at  the  novelty  of  the  thing,  and  the  account  he  gave 
of  her  quality;  Bi.it  as  we  often  meet  with  falfe  ftories  in 
our  emplfe)yment,  that  did  not  hinder  us  from  doing  our  du- 
ty. So  I  took  her  by  the  hand  with  a  great  deal  of  refpedt, 
and  put  her  into  the  coach  between  myfelf  and  my  compani- 
on ;  not  without  apprehenfions  of  fome  extravagant  follies, 
confidering  the  violence  of  her  temper;  but  Hie  continued 
pretty  fcdate,  only  feemed  to  be  overwhelmed  with  grief.-— 
We  ferouglit  her  to  the  Inquifi  Ion,  and  lodged  her  in  a  very 
handfome  apartment  feparate  from  the  convent,  on  account 
ofherfex;  with  two  waiting-women  to  attend  her  with  all 
refpedl,  till  we  were  better  apprized  of  the  truth  of  her  cua- 
lity.  This  obliged  me  lo  take  another  journey  to  Signor 
Gaudentio's  houfe,  to  fecure  his  papers,  with  whatever  elfe 
might  contribute  to  further  our  difcovery.  I  found  all  thii^gs 
in  theTame  order  I  left  them  ;  but  being  extiemely  fatigued, 
I  fat  down  to  the  elegant  collation  that  was  left,  and  after  a 
fmall  repaft  went  to  bed  in  his  houfe,  to  have  the  morning  be- 
fore us  for  fecuringhiseffed\s,     I  fealed  up  all  the  papers  1 


>vl  INTRODUCTION. 

could  find,  t'»  eynmine  them  at  more  leifure  ;  took  :\n  in- 
ventory of  all  il)e  moveable?,  that  they  might  be  reftored  to 
him  ill  cafe  he  was  found  innocent ;  and  fent  for  a  proper  of- 
ficer to  remain  in  th.c  houfe,  who  was  tob«  refponfible  for  e- 
vfry  thing.  There  were  two  lictle  cabinets  of  curious  work- 
man!! ip;  one  of  them,  as  it  appeared,  belonged  to  him,  the 
other  to  the  ilrange  lady  ;  but  being  full  of  intricate  draw- 
ers or  tills,  we  tor  k  them  both  along  with  us.  Thefe  and 
the  papers  we  delivered  to  the  head  Ir.quifitors,  not  being 
wUling  to  jroceed  in  either  of  their  examinations,  till  wc 
had  got  all  the  light  we  could,  to  find  out  the  truth,  for  that 
was  all  cur  aim;  then  we  could  tell  what  courfe  to  take 
with  tlum.  We  placed  two  cunning  lay-brothers,  in  the 
nature  of  fervants,  for  Signer  Gaudentio,  wiio  were  to  infi- 
nuate  themfelves  into  his  favour  by  their  kind  offices,  com- 
pafTionating  l/is  misfortunes,  andadviling  him  to  difcover  the 
whole  truth,  in  the  account  of  his  life,  quality,  profeifion,  opi- 
r/ions,  at  d,  in  whatever  articles  he  was  to  be  interrogated  on, 
toconfcfs  ingenuoufly  what  he  knew  :  that  that  was  the  on- 
ly way  to  find  favour  at  the  hands  of  the  InquifitorS ;  that 
they  pardoned  ahnofi;  all  faults  on  a  fincere  confefliofi,  and 
an  afTurance  of  amcndinent.  I  vitlted  hifH  my  (elf  feveral 
times  before  his  examination,  and  gave  him  the  fame  advice 
artd  aCTiirance  ;  he  promifed  me  faithfully  he  vrould,  and- 
feemed  fo  Aeady  and  confirmed  in  his  own  innocence,  with 
fuch  an  agreeable,  yetfir.ccie  wa)-  in  hisdifcourfe,  as  really 
furprized  me,  and  cauied  me  already  to  be  prejudiced  in  liia 
favour  ;  adding  with  a  fmile,  that  the  hiftory  of  his  life  would 
adminiller  mere  caufe  of  wonder  than  indignation.  Not  to 
Le  too  particular,  the  chief  of  the  Inquilition,  with  myfelf 
along  with  them,  fet  to  the  fcrutiny  of  his  papers  :  we  ex- 
amined them  with  all  the  care  imaginable,  but  could  find 
nothing  to  ground  any  material  accufation,  except  fome  im- 
perfect memoirs  of  the  cuftoms  of  a  cnunti7  and  people  un- 
heard of  to  us,  and  I  believe  to  all  the  world  befide,  with 
fome  odd  charaQers,  or  words,  wh'ch  had  no  affinity  with 
any  language  or  charadcrs  we  ever  faw.  Wc  difcovcred  he 
had  a  grc-at  knowledge  in  natural  philofophy,  with  fome  re- 
marks that  were  very  curious.  I'here  was  a  rough  draught 
of  a  ma]5  of  a  country,  with  tov/ns,  rivers,  lakes,  &c.  but  no 
climate  marked  down.     In  fliort,  all  his  papers  contained  no-- 


INTRODUCTION.  xni 

thing  but  fome  fmall  Sketches  of  philofophy    and    pfeyfick, 
with  fome  pieces  of  poetry  of  an  uncommon  tafle.     Neither 
could  we  find  any  footReps  of  judici;iry  aftrology,  or   calcu- 
lations of  nativities,  of  which  we  had  the  greateft  fufpicion  ; 
only  a  pair  of  globes,  a  fet  of  mathematical    inflruments, 
charts  of  navigation,  forms  of  unknown  trees  and  plants,  an'd 
fuch  like  things,  as  all  gentlemen  who  delight  in    travelling 
are  curious  to  have.     There  were  indeed  fome  lines,  circles, 
fegments  of  circles,  which  we  fuppofed  the    informing    ladv 
,  meant  ;but  looked  like  an  attempt  to  find  out  the  longitude, 
rather  than  any  magical  fchemes,      His  baoks  were    of  the 
fame  nature  ;  nothing  of  herefy  that  we  could  fee,  but  fuch 
as  belonged  to  a  man  of  learning.     There  were  feveral  com- 
mon books  of  devotion,  fuch  as   are    approved  of   by    our 
church,  and  Teemed  pretty  well  ufed  ;  by  which  we  judged 
him  to  be  really  a  Catholic,    and  a  perfon  of  no  bad  morals. 
But  as  nothing  lo:ks  fo  like  an  honeft  man  as  a  knave^  this 
did  not  take  away  all  our  fufpicion*     When  we  came   to  o- 
pen  the  cabinets,  in  the  fiifl;  of  them,  which  belonged  to  him, 
we  found  in  one  of  the  drawers  about  four  hundred  and  fifty 
Roman  crowns,  with  other  fm:\ll   money,  and  fome  foreign 
coin  along  with  it, as  Turkifli  fequins,  and  fome  we  knew  no- 
thing of.     I'he  fum  not  being  very  extraordinary,  we  couli 
conclude  nothing  fr0m  thence*     In  another  draper  we  found 
feveral  precious  ftones,  fotne  fet,  fome  unfet,  of  a  very  great 
value,  fo  far  from  being  counterfeit,  that  we  never  faw  any 
fo  brilliant.     Be  fides,  feveral  pieces  of  native  gold,  of    fuch 
finenefs,  as  nothing  with  us  can  come  up  to   it.     In  a  third, 
we  found  a  fmall  heap  of  medals  moft  ofgold,  butcf  an  un- 
known ftamp  and  antiquity.     There  were  outlandifh   ftones 
of  odd  figures  enough,  which  to  others  might  look  like    talif- 
mansjbut  we  took  them  for  fome  out-of-the-way  cuiiofities. 
In  a  private  drawer  in  the  centre  of  the  cabinet,  there  was 
fomething  wrapt  up  in  a  piece  of    green    filk    of  wonderful 
fmenefs,  all  embroidered  with  hearts  and  hands  joined    toge- 
ther, wrought  in  gold  with  prodigious   art,    and   intermixed 
with  different  floweis,  unknown  in  our  part  of  the  world  ;— 
in  the  midfl  of  it  vvas  an  azure  Hone,  as  large  as    the    palm 
of  one's  hand,  fet  round  with  rubies  of  very  great  value,  oti 
which  wasLuioft  artfully  painted  in  miniature,  a    woman    at 
length,  holding  a  little  boy  in  her  left  hand,  the  molt  beauti- 


^.\\\  INTRODUCTION". 

ful  creature  that  ever  eyes  beheld  ,   clad  likewife    in   green 
i'llk  ipanglcd  with  golden  funs:    their  complexion  was  lonie- 
ihinp  darker  than  thai  of  our  luilian    ladies  ;    but    the    fea- 
tv'.res,  erpeciallv  the  womanV,  lo  uiicommonlv  bejiutii'ul  as  if 
fl.t  had  been  of  anolher  fpccics.     Undtrneath  was  engraved 
Asith    a  diamond  in  a  iTiodtrn  hand — ^  ^uejlo  folo,'      You 
inav  be  lure,  Sir,  this  railed  our  ideas  of  the    man  :    at    firft, 
we  tkought  he  had  the  fecret  of  the  Phllofopher's  flone  ;  bnt 
in  all  his  inventory  we  could  fir.d  no  implements  of  that  ait. 
'i'hen  we  thought  he  nnift  have  been    feme     famcus  pirate, 
or  one  ^vho  had  robbed  the  cabinet  of  fjme  great  prince,  and 
was  come  to  live  at  Bologna  in  that  private   manner,  under 
tl:e  difeuire  of  a  phyficinr..     But  haviig  been  three  years  in 
the  town,  if  it  had  been  any    l^uropean    piince,  the  world 
would  have  had  an  aceoinit  of  jt  before  now  ;  fo  Me  conclud- 
ed that  eii  her  what  he  fa  id  of  that   unkn>)wu   country    was 
tiaie,  «r  that  he  h?d  robbed  fome  of  the  Eaflern  princes,  and 
gf»t  off  ckar  with  his  prize.     But  the  pidlure  of   the  woman 
mnde  us  incline  to  think  he  had   mariied   fome   out-landifli 
CjUftn,  ar.d  on   her  death  liad    retired  with  his  efTtfts.     'I'he 
V5.il  of  the  drawers  were  full  of  natural  curiofities  of  foreign 
plants,   roots,    bones    of  animals,   birds,  ii.fecfls,  &c.    from 
v^lience  very  likely  he  took  hisphyfical  ferrets.     Theoth.er 
cabinet,  which  belonged  to  the  eldeily  lady,  was  very  rich, 
hut  nothipg  equal  to  the  firQ  ;  there  were  a  great  manyfmall 
jewels,  and  fomc  very  fme  pearls,  with  bracelets,  pendants, 
and  oth.cr  cviiious  ornaments  belonging  to  women;  and  a  lit- 
tle pid\L:rc  of  a  very   handfome  man    about  tliirty,  nothing 
like  our  gentleman,  ill    a  warlike  drefs,  with  a  'luikini    fcy- 
jiiitar  by  his  fide,  who  by   his  mein  fecmed  to  be  a    man    of 
note.     But  wc  could  find   nothing  that   could   give  us  any 
knowledge  what  they  were  ;  fo  that  we  wei-e  at  a    lo!s    with 
viUour  fiigacity  what  to  think  of  the  matter,  or  to   find  any 
jufl  caufe  to  keep  tb.em  in  tie   liiquifition  :  for  though    we 
do  not  difcov(  r  ovir  motives  to  other  people,  we  never   pro* 
teed  againft  any  one    but  on    very    ftrong  fufpicions.     On 
v.'hich  account  we  were  refolved  to  make  his  confinement  as 
rafy  as  pclTible,  till  we  could  fee  furthcrinto  tl.e  affair.     Wo 
had  thoughts  of  examining  the  woman  firQ,  to  get  what  we 
could  from  her  to  interrogate  him  upon  ;  but  fheiOiot    under* 
itisudi"g  Italian  e»ou9h,  we  fent  to  Venice  with  otir   Rccuf* 


INTRODUCTION.  jrfx 

tomed  privacy,  for  fome  of  your  pe-ple,  that  tilade  to    the 
Levant,  to  be  our  Interpreters.     In  the  mean  time  we   were 
refolved  to  try  what  we  could  get  out  of  him  by  his  own  con- 
felTion  ;  fo  we  fent  for  him  before  us.     He  came   Into  the 
room  with  a    modefl  unconcernednefs,  that    rather    argued 
wonder  than  fear:  we  had  the  cabJHet  and  jewels  all  before 
us,  fliewed  them  to  him  all  together,. with  the  inventory    of 
his  goods,  aflurin^  him  they  fiiould  be  fordi-comlng,  in  cafe 
we  were  apprized  of  his  innocence  ;  but  withal  advlfing  him, 
as  well  as  commanding  him  to  confefs  the    truth,   and    then 
not  a  hair  of  his  head  fhould  be  touched.     But  if  ever   we 
caught  him  In  a  falfe  ftory,  all  (liould   be    confifcated,    and 
he  never  fee  fun  or  moon  more.     He  affured  us  with  great 
refpedl,  he  would  own  the  truth  to  every  thifig  we  fliould  in- 
terrogate hlai  about,  in  an  accent  that  would  have  peiluaded 
any  one  of  his  fincerity,  humbly  defiring  to  know  vfhat  ac- 
Gufatlops  we  had  agalnft  him.     Wc  anfvvered,  that  was  not 
the  metliodof  the  Inquilitlon  ;  but  that  he  fhould  anfwerdi- 
rcdly  to  our  interrogatoilcs.     As  the  holy  office  chiefly  con- 
cerns Itfelf  about  religion,  we  afked  him  firft,   what  religion 
he  was  of.     The  reafon  of  this  was,  becaufe,  thougli  he  pro- 
ftlTed  himfelf  a    Catholic,  we  were  to  keep  up  the  forms  :— - 
neither   did  we  know  butthat  he  miglit    be  fome    Tew    or 
Turklfli  fpy  in  maiquerade  :    then  his  name,   place    of    his 
birth,  where  he  was  educated,  how  he  came  by  thofe  jewels, 
what  was  the  occafjon  of  his  fettling  at   Bologna  ;  who  that 
elderly  lady  was;  In  fine,  every  thing  in  general   and  parti-- 
cular  we  could  think  of  at  firft,  the  better  to  compare   ins  an- 
fwers  afterwards,     He  told  us  he  was   a  Catholic  bred   and 
borM  ;  aU'ays  profefTed  himfelf  fuch;  and  in  that  faith  would 
live  and  diec  let  what  would  happen  to  kim.     He  explained 
himfelf  on  the  chief  heads,  to  fhew  that  he  was  v.-ell  inflrucft- 
ed  In  his  religion ;  h.e  appealed  to  all  the  enquiries  we  could 
make,  wiiether  he  had  not  behaved  as  a    Catholic  on  all  oc- 
cafions,  naming  a  Capuchin  in  the  town,  who  was  his  father 
confelTor  ;  to  whom,  he  faid,  he  gave  leave  to  declare  all  he 
knew  on  that  head.     As  to  his  name,  he  faid,  his  true  nariie 
was  Gaudentio  dl  Lucca,  though  born  at  RaguHi.     Tliat  his 
father  was  a  merchant  trading  to  the    Levant ;  whicli   em- 
ployment he  defigned  to   follow    himfelf  ;  but  in   his  fuft 
voyage  was  taken  by  an  Algerine  pirate,  who  carried  him  a 


snc  INTRODUCTION. 

flaveto  Grand  Cairo,  and  fold  him  to  a  merchant,  of  what 
country  nobody  knew  ;  which  merchant  took  him  along  witli 
him,  through  the  vail  defarts  of  Africa,  by  a  way   he  would 
dclcribc  to  us  if  we  required  it,  till    he    came  to  a  country, 
j)erhap5  the  moft  civiliaed  and  polite  in  the   whole  univerfe. 
In  that  country  he  lived  near  five  and  twenty  years,   till  on 
the  death  of  his  wife,  and  his  only  furviving  fon,   whofe  pic- 
tures were  in  that  cabinet,  the  melancholy  difaller  made  him 
induce  his  father-in  law,  who  was  the  merchant  that  had  fiift 
bought  him,  to  take  another  journey  to  Grand   Cairo,    from 
whence  he  might  be  able  to  return  to  his  native  country.— 
'i'his  the  merchant,  (for  he  paffed  for  fuch,  though  he  was  a 
great  ruler  in  his  own  country)  complied  with  :  but  happen- 
ing to  come  thither  when  the  plague  raged  in   the   city,  his 
father-in-law  and  fevcral  of  his  attendants  died  with  it  ;  leav- 
ing him  heir  to  moflof  his  tfFedls,  a«d  part  of  the  jewels  we 
faw  before  us.     'I'h at  being  now  entirely  at  liberty,  he    re- 
turned in  a  French  fliip  trading  from  Marieilles  to  the  Le- 
vant, the  mafter's  name  Francois  Xavier  Godart,  who  by  a- 
greement  was  to  land  him  at  Venice  ;  but  touching  at  Can- 
dy, they  accidentally  favedthe  life  of  that  elderly  lady,  and 
brought  her  off  along  with  them,  for  which  they  were  pur- 
fued  by  two  I'urkiHi  vefTels,   and  carried  plifoners  to  Con- 
flantinople,  but  releafed  by  the  ordej-  of  the    fultanefs  mo- 
ther.    That  Monfieur  Godart  was  well  known    at  Venice  ; 
particularly  by  Signer  Coriidani,  an  eminent  merchant  tlicre^ 
who  could  affure  us  of  the  trutii  of  what  he  faid.     That,  i:i 
fine,  having  Raid  fome  time  at  Venice,  to  fee    the   curiofi- 
ties  and  t!ie  carnival,  an  affair  relating  to  the  young  lady  we 
faw  with  him,  when  he  was  feized,  and  the  love  he  had  for 
learning,  Bologna  being  a  famous  univeifity,    induced    him 
to  fettle  there,  where  he  prcfumed  we    had   been 'very  well 
intormed  of  his  behaviour  ever  fmce.     *■  'I'his,'   faid  he,    '  is 

*  tlie  mofl  fuccin(fl  account  I  can  give  to   your  Reverences, 

*  on  tlie  interrogatories  you  have  propofed    to  me  ;    thoiiglr 

*  n^y  life  has  been  chequered  with  fuch  a  variety    of    inti- 

*  dents,  as  would  take  a  great  deal  of  time    to   defcend  to 

*  jiarticulars.'  We  looked  at  one  anoilier  with  fome  iur- 
prize  at  this  ftrai-ge  account,  which  he  delivered  with  fucli 
an  air  of  lleadineis,  as  fcarce  left  any  room  to  doubt  of  the 
truth  of  it.     However,  cuv  fupciior  turning  to  him,  faid—. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxt 

Signor  Gaudentlo,  we  neither  believe,  nor  difbelieve,  what 
you  tell  us  ;  as  we  condemn  no  man  without  a  full  convic- 
tion of  his  crime,  fo  we  are  not  to  be  impofed  upon,  by 
the  accounts  people  may  give  of  tliemfelves.  What  is 
here  before  us,  fliews  there  is  fomething  extraordinary  in 
the  cafe.  If  we  find  you  to  be  an  impoftor,  you  flrall  fuf- 
fer  as  fuch  ;  in  the  mean  time,  till  we  can  be  better  in- 
formed, we  enjoin  you  to  give  in  your  whole  life,  with  all 
occurrences,  except  your  private  fins,  if  you  have  any,  in 
writing;  which  you  fliall  read  to  us,  and  be  crofs-examin- 
ed,  as  we  think  proper.  It  will  concern  you  therefore  to 
be  very  exa£l  ;  for  nothing  will  pafs  here  but  innocence, 
*^or  a  fincere  repentance.* 

This,  Sir,  is  the  manufcriot  I  fend  you,  given  in  by  hIm-< 
felf  as  ordered  ;  with  the  Inquifitors  interrogatories  as  we 
examined  it,  article  by  article.  Which  interrogatories  I 
have  inferted  as  they  were  propofed,  with  a  fuither  account 
at  the  end,  for  the  better  clearing  the  whole.  We  beg  you 
to  inform  yourfelf  of  the  fafts,  which  his  memoirs  fay  hap- 
pened to  him  at  Venice,  particularly  about  Monficur  God* 
art.  Befides,  Sir,  you  that  can  trace  all  the  branches  of  an- 
cient hiftory  to  the  fountain  head,  are  able  to  form  a  better 
judgment  of  the  probability  of  his  relation.  He  is  ftill  in 
the  Inquifitien,  and  offers  himfelf  to  condudl  fome  of  our 
miffionaries,  to  preach  the  Gofpel  tothofe  unknown  people. 
The  length  of  this  only  gives  me  leave  to  alTure  you,  that  1 
am  with  the  greateft  elleem  imaginable.  Sir,  &c. 

BoLOGNTA, 

July  29,  1721.  F.  ALISIO  DE  ST.  IVO^IO.. 


0  ^m^mi^0.^0%^0:^^^i^^ .  . 

>'S>'iI'00<.^<^<><I><>c.;i<^iOr:;i«<ii<::i<;iOc;X><i -'•='.; 


THE 

ADVENTURES 

0    T 

gIGNOR  GAUDENTIO  DI  LUCCA, 


T  Should  be  infenfible  reverend  Fathers,  if  I  were  not 
■■■highly  concerned  to  find  myfelf  under  any  accuH^- 
jLion  before  this  holy  tribunal,  which  I  revere  with  all 
the  powers  of  my  foul  :  but  efpecially  if  your  Reve- 
rences (liould  harbour  any  fmifter  opinion  of  my  reli- 
gion J  for  I  was  born  and  bred  up  in  the  bofom  of 
the  mofl  holy  Catholic  church,  as  well  as  my  pa- 
rents before  me  ;  in  the  defence  of  which  my  ancef- 
tors  fpent  part  of  their  blood,  againlt  the  infidels,  and 
enemies  of  our  faith  ;  and  for  which  faith  I  am  ready 
to  lay  down  my  life.  But  I  am  as  yet  a  ftranger  to 
your  Reverences,  and  on  feveral  accounts  may  be  lia- 
ble to  fufpicion.  Wherefore  I  blame  not  the  juftics 
of  your  proceeding,  but  rather  extol  your  goodnei's 
in  allowing  me  the  liberty  to  clear  myl'elf,  by  a  true 
and  fincere  declaration  of  my  whole  life,  wherein,  I 
own,  have  happened  feveral  aftonifliing  and  almoft  in- 
credible occurrences  ;  all  which  I  (liall  lay  before 
your  Reverences,  according  to  the  commands  impof- 
edonme,  with  the  utmeft  candour  and  fmcerity. 

My  nameis  Gaudentio   di  Lucca;  I  was  fooalled, 
becaufe  my  ancellors    were  faid  to  be  originally  pf 


24  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

that  place;  though  tliey  liad  been  fettled  for  fome  time 
at  llagufa,  where  1  was  bom:  both  wiiich  places  arc 
not  fo  far  ofr,  but  they  may  be  very  well  known  to 
your  Reverences.  My  father's  name  was  Gafparino 
di  Lucca,  heretofore  a  merchant  of  fome  note  inthofe 
parts.  My  mother  was  a  Corfican  lady,  reported  to 
be  dcfcended  from  thofe  who  had  been  the  chief  per- 
fonages  in  that  ifland.  My  grandfather  was  likewife 
a  merchant :  but  my  great  grandfather,  Bernardino  di 
Lucca,  was  a  foldicr,  und  captain  of  the  great  Vene- 
rio's  own  galley  *,  who  was  general  for  the  Vene- 
tiansln  the  famous  battle  of  Lepantoagainll  the  Turks. 
We  had  a  tradition  in  our  family,  that  he  was  Ve- 
nerio's  fon  by  a  Grecian  lady  of  great  quality,  fome 
fay  defccnded  from  the  Paleologi,  who  had  been  em- 
perors of  Conjlantinople.  But  Hie  dying  in  childbed, 
and  they  having  been  only  privately  married,  Vei>e- 
rio  bred  liim  up  as  the  fon  of  a  friend  of  his  who  v/as 
killed  in  the  wars.  That  famous  battle,  in  which  the 
Chriftians  and  Venerio  got  io  great  renown  againll 
the  Turks,  inftead  of  railing  my  great  grandfather^s 
fortune,  was  the  occafion  of  his  retiring  from  the 
wars,  and  turning  merchant.  The  realon  was  this  : 
Venerio  the  Venetian  admiral  had  caufeda  Spanifli 
captain  to  be  hung  up  at  the  yard-arm  for  mutiny  f  ; 

•  This  partof  tlie  nccountis  certa.inly  true  :  there  was  fuch 
a  captain  in  the  lifl  of  the  ofticers  in  that  famous  battle. 

fit  is  likewife  true,  that  tiiere  was  fuch  a  quarrel  between 
Don  John  of  Audi  ia,  the  gencralilTiino,  and  Venerio,  admi- 
ral of  the  Venetian  gullies  ;  which  had  like  to  have  put  the 
•whole  Chridliiii  fleet  at  variance  together,  before  the  battle, 
and  mined  the  hopes  of  all  Chriflendoni.  The  occafion  was, 
as  he  relates  it  ;  Don  John,  as  generaHfllino,  viewing  the 
>vhole  ileet  before  the  figiit,  and  lindlng  the  Venetian  gal- 
lies  too  thinly  manned,  ordered  four  thonfai.d  Spaniards  to  be 
put  on  board  the  faid  gullies.  But  one  Mutio  Tortona,  a  Span- 
iih  captain,  proving  mutinous,  after  a  great  many  injurious 
words,  came  to  blows  with  the  captain  of  the  Venetian  galle/ 


CAUDEISTTIO    E>I    LUCCA.  2^ 

'-which  fevere  difcipliiie  fo  difpleafed  Don  John  of 
Audria,  generalitrimo  of  the  whole  fleet,  that  after  the 
battle,  the  Venetians,  to  appeafe  Don  John,  and  not 
to  be  deprived  of  the  luccours  of  the  Spaniards  againll 
the  Turks,  were  forced  to  facrifice  Venerio's  honour 
to  the  refentment  of  the  Spaniards,  and  put  him  out 
ofcommiihon*.  After  this  difgrace,  Venerio  retir- 
ed ,•  and  my  great  grandfather,  whofe  fortune  (depend- 
ed on  his  having  been  bred  up  to  the  lea,  turned  mer- 
chant, or  rather  privateer  againft  the  Moors  ;  and, 
■with  the  Knights  of  Malta,  not  only  did  great  fervice 
againft  them,  but  made  a  confiderable  fortune  in  the 
world. 

where  he  was;  upon  which  the  whole  fleet  fell  to  i*.  Venerio, 
hearing  the  wproar,  fent  his  own  captain  torfee  whiit  was  the 
matter  ;  but  the  proud  Spaniards  treated  him  no  better  than 
they  did  the  reft ;  fo  that  Venerio  himfelf  was  forced  to  come 
to  appeafe  them  ;  but  feeing  the  Spani(l)  captain  perftft  in  hit 
matinous  temper,  and  the  affront  he  had  put  upon  his  captain, 
who  was  reported  to  be  his  Ton,  ordered  Tortona  and  his  en- 
■fign  to  be  hung  at  the  yard-arm.  At  this  all  the  Spaniards 
in  the  flaet  were  up  in  arms,  and  threatened  to  cut  the  Ve- 
netians to  pieces  ;  but,  by  the  uiterpofition  of  the  other  gene- 
rals, the  matter  was  made  up  till  after  the  fight  j  when  Vene- 
rio, who  had  behaved  with  incomparable  valour,  and,  accord- 
ing to  Don  John's  own  confeflion,  was  the  chief  occafion  of 
the  vidlorr,  to  appeafe  the  haughty  Spaniard,  had  his  com- 
miffion  taken  from  him,  and  was  recalled  by  the  fenate. 

•  It  was  Fufcairni,  who  was  made  general  of  the  Venetians 
in  Venerio's  (lead. 

Every  one  who  is  the  leaft  acquainted  withhlftory,  knows 
that  the  battle  of  Lepanto  was  the  greateft  fea-fight  that 
ever  was  fought  between  the  Chriftians  and  Turks  ;  and  the 
viflory  on  the  Chriftians  fide  the  moft  fignal.  I'he  Spanilh 
gallies  were  commanded  by  Don  John  ot  Auftria,  gene- 
ralilTimo  :  the  Pope's  gallies  by  the  famous  Golonna  :  the 
Genoefe  by  old  Doria,  who  had  gained  fo  much  renown 
sgainft  the  7  urks  and  French,  under  Charles  V.  the  Venc- 

C 


%6  GAUDtNTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

But,  t9  return  to  myfclf :  my  father  having  a.pien* 
tiful  fortune,  took  particular  care  of  tlic  etlucation'of 
Jiis  children.  He  had  only  two  fons,  of  whom  I  was 
tlieyoungelt  ;  ana  a  daughur,  who  died  young.  Find- 
ing I  had  a  great  inchnation  to  learning,  he  promoted 
it,  hy  providing  me  wiUi  the  hell  mailers,  till  I  was 
fit  to  go  to  the  univerlity.  '11^^:  knowledge  of  lan- 
guages heing  of  great  ui\i  as  well  as  ornament  to  young 
gentlemen,  he  himfclf,  by  way  of  recreation,  taught 
me  that  mixed  language  called  Lingua  Franca,  fo  ne- 
.ccflary  in  cHllern  countries.  It  is  made  up  of  Italian, 
Tui  kifli,  Perfmn,  and  Arabian,  or  rather  a  jargon  bf 
all  languages  togctlier.  He  icarce  everl'poke  tous 
but  in  that  language,  faying,  we  might  learn  Latin 
from  our  mailers,  and  our  mother  tongue  from  our 
play-fellows.  The  lame  real'on  induced  him  to  fend 
me  to  the  famous  uniNerfily  of  Paris,  to  learn  French 
atthefame  time  with  my  other  ftudies.  I  lived  in  the 
CoHege  des  ()]iatre  Nations,  and  maintained  my 
thefes  of  univerlal  jjhilolophy  under  the  celeorated 
MonfieurDuHamel,  who  wag  one  of  the  firft  in  the 
i:ni\'erfity  who  decried  Ariflotle's  philofophy,  and 
leaned  towards  the  opinions  of  Defcartes. 
[^.S'ecrctary.  Here  the  inQ[uifitors  muttered  a  little, 
fearing  he  was  inclined  to  the  Copernican  fyllem, 
which  has  been  condemned   at  Rome.  But,  linccit 

tiansby  the  great  Venerio,  one  of  the  biavcfl  foldiers.  of  liig 
time.  Flaly  the  'lurk,  grtrac  bafla  ol  the  f<;a,  was  flaiw,  and 
klinclt  ill!  the  'iiiikilii  comnjimdiiig  oiHcers  killed  or  taken. 
i\TOong(t  the  prifoners,  were  Haiy's  two  Ions  nephews  to  tlic 
Grand  Signicr.  Of  the  common  folditrs  of  the 'l\uks,  werfc 
fhin  tv\(3-aHd-th.i-ty  thoufaiid  :  alunidred  and  forty-one  of 
the  enemies  gidlits  were  tak^n,  forty  fimk  or  burnt  ;of  gaJ- 
Jiots  and  other  Imail  vclTelt  were  taken  about  fixty.  Fide  th6 
Twrkilh  hillorv,  and  other  accounts  of  this  famous  battle,  and 
the  whole  affaii  as  is  tlierc  related.  The  battle  was  fought 
•»  tli«  ;?tk  of  Ot^ber  1 571, 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  ^7 

regarde  d  philofophlcal    matters  only,  they  pafled 

it  over.] 

J  was  entering    into  my  nineteenth  year,  and  had 
feme  thoughts  of  taking  to  the  church,  when  my  bro- 
ther wrote  me  the  melancholy  account  of  my  father 
and    mother's  death,  and  the  unfortunate  occafion  o£ 
it  ;  which  in  fliort  was,  that  having  loft  his  richeft 
(hip,  with  all  his  efFe6ls,  by  pirates,  and  his  chief  fac- 
tor at  Smyrna    being  gone  off,   his  other  correlpon- 
dents  came  upon  him  thick  ;  and  not  being  in  a  con-  • 
dition  to  anfwer  their  calls,  it  threw  him  and  my  mo- 
ther into  a  deep   melancholy,   which  fliortened  their 
days,  both  dying  in  thre»^  weeks  of  one  another.      My 
brother  told  me  he  was  not  able  to  maintain  me  lon- 
ger at  the  univerfity,  as  before;  but  acquainted  me,  he 
had  made  ailiift  to  fit  out  a  fmall  velTsl,  wherein  he 
had  put  his  ail ;  and  invited  me  to  join  the  fmall  por- 
tion that  fell  to  my  fliare  along  with  him,  with  which, 
he  faid,  we  could  make  a  pretty  good  bottom  ;  and  fo 
retrieve  the  ihattered  fortune  of  our  family.     Not  to 
be  too'  prolix,  I  followed  his  advice  :  he  lold  his  houfe 
and  gardens    to  pay  his  father's    creditors,  and  put 
what  was  left,  together  with  my  little  (lock,  into  that 
unfortunate  bottom,     We  fet    fail  from   Ragufa  the 
third  of  March,  yf -mo  Doifir.  1688,  very  inaufpicioully 
for  my   dear    brother,  as   will  appear  by  the  fequel. 
We  touched  at  Smyrna,  to  i>ee  if  we  could   hear  any 
thing  of  my  father's  fa£lor  :  and  were   told,  that  he 
was    turned  Turk,  and  gone  off,   very  magnificently  * 
dreffed  up  in  borrowed  feathers,  to  fettle  at  Conftan- 
tinople  J  however,    we    picked  up  fomething  of  fome 
lioneil  Chriltian  merchants,  with  whom  lie  had  lodged 
apart  of  his  cfFe^ls.     This  encouraged  us  to  proceed 
to  Cyprus  and  Alexandria  ;  but,  as  we  were  purfu- 
ing  our  voyage  one  morning,  in  a  prodigious  fog,  as  if 
the  fea  was  fatal  to  our  family,  wc  fpied  on  afudden 
two  Algerine  rovers  bearing  down  upon  us,  one  on 
each  fide.     We   had  fcarce   time  to  clear  our  little 


28  CAUDEKTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

vefTcl,  when   they  fired  upon  us,  and  called  to  uster 
ftrikc,  or   we  were  dcnd     men.      My  brother  and  I, 
confidcring  that  our  all  wns   at  (lake,  and  that  we  had 
better  die    honourably   than  be  made  flavcs  by  thofe 
unbelieving  mifcrcants,  called   up  our  men  who  were 
but  twenty-three  in  all,  of  whom  five  were  young  gen- 
tlemen   wlio    had  engaged  to  try  their  fortune  along 
with  us.     Vv'e  were  armed  only  with  fwords,  and  pi  1- 
tols  under    our    girdles.      After  a  fliort  confultaiion, 
it  was  i:greed  to   light  it   out  to  the  laft  man  ;  and  we 
turned  bntk  to  back    to  make  head  againflboth  fides, 
my  brother  in  ihe  middle  of  one  rank,  and  myfelf  in 
the  otlicr.     The     enemy    boarded    us  in  great  num.- 
hers,    looking    on  us  as  madmen   to   pretend  to  make 
any  refilhincc  ;  but  tlicy  were  Toon  made  to  leap  back. 
It  lead  all  that    were    able  ;  for  being  clofe   up  with 
them,  and  they  crowded  together,  we  fired  our  pif- 
tcls  fo  luckily,  tliat  fcarce  one    mifled  doing  executi- 
on. Seeing  thifm  in  this  confufion,  we  made  a  pudi  at 
them  on  each  fide,  dill  keeping  ourranks,  8^  drove  tiie 
T  emaindcr  headlong  off  the  deck.     Tiiis  we  did'twico 
ber^re  any  of  our  men  dropt.      We  were  grappled  To 
tiofe,  they  had  no  ufc  of  their  cannon  or  mufKets,  and 
Itarce  thought  of  firing   their    pillols  at  us,  expeAing 
we  (houhl  )itrld    immediaiely,    or    to    }ia\-e  borne  ii3 
down  with  their  weii^lit .  i  am  more  particular  in  def- 
tribing  this  petty    fight,   fmco  there  are  butfewex- 
;im])les  where  a  handful  of  men  made  fuch  along  re» 
filtance.  The  arch-pirate,  who  was  a  llout  well-built, 
young  man,  raged  like  a  lion,  calling  his  men  a  thou* 
IJind  cowards,  lb  loud,  that  his  voice  was  heard  nbovo 
all  the  ciies  of  the    foldiers.   The  ecige  of  their  fury 
was    a  little  abated  after  the  dropping  of  lb  many, 
men  ;  and  they  began  to  fire  at  fome  diltance  ;  which 
did  us  more  harm  tlian  their  moft  furious  attacks.  My 
brother,  feeing  his  men    begin  to  drop  in  their  turn^ 
ordered  me  t )  face  the  one    (hip,  while  he  with  his 
rank  leaped  in  amongft.  the  em^mies  in  the  other.  H« 


GAUDENTIO    Dl    LUCCA.  I9 

did  it  with  fuch  a  noble   intrepidity,  that  he  made  a 
gap  among  the   thickeil  of  them  immediately.     But 
their  numbers    clofing  together,  their    very  weight 
drove  him  back  in  fpite  of  all  he  could  do,  and  he  loll 
feveral  of  his  men  before   he  could  recover  his  poft. 
The  enemy   would   neither  board  us,  nor  leave  us  ; 
but  firing  at  us  continually,  flill  killed  fome  of  our  men. 
There  were  now  only  eleven  of  us  left  ;  and  no  hopes 
of  vi6lory,  or  of  quarter  after  fucn  obllinate  refiRance. 
They  durft  not  come  to  a  clofe    engagment  with  us 
for  all  this  ;  when  my  brother,  to  die  as  honourably 
as  he  could,  once  more  leaped    into  the  pirate's  (hip, 
and  feeing  their  captain  in  the  midft  of  them,  made  at 
him  with  all  his  might,  calling  on  the  few  he  had  left 
to  fecond   him.     He  foon   cut  his  way  through  ;  but 
juftas  he  was  coming    up  to  him,  a  cowardly  Turk 
clapt  apiftoljuft  below  his  two  flioulder  blades,  and, 
I  believe,  fliot   him    quite   through  the  heart.  For  he 
dropped  down  dead  on  the  fpot.     The  Turk  that  Qiot 
him  was  run  through  the  body  by  one  of  our  men, 
and  he  himfelf,  with  the  others   that  were  left  being 
quite  overpowered,  were  all  cut  in  pieces.    I  had  yet 
four  men  left  on  my  fide  againfl  the    lefier  fliip,  and 
had  till  then  kept  off  the  enemy   from  boarding,  but 
the  pirates  giving  a  great  fliout  at  my  brother's  fall, 
the  captain  of  the  (hip  I  was  engaged  with,  who  was 
the  arch-pirate's  brother,  cried  out  to  his  crew,  that 
it  was  a  fliame  to  (land  all  day  firing  at  fit e  men  :  and 
leaping  on  my  deck,  made  at  me  like  a  man  of  honour, 
with  his  piftol  ffeadily  poifed  in  his  hand.  I  met  him 
with  equal  refolution.     He    came    boldly  up  within 
fword's  length,  and  fired  his  prflol  dirc6lly  at  my  face  ; 
he  aimed  his  (hot  i'o  well,  that  one  of  the  balls  went' 
through    my   hair,  and  other  grazed  the  fide  of  my 
neck.     But  before  he  could    fecond  his  fliot,  I  gave 
him  fuch  a  firoke  with  my  broad  fword,  between  the 
temple  and  the   lefc-ear,  that  it  cut  through  partoE 


yD  GAUDENTIO    Dl    LUCCA. 

lus  fkull.  Ills  check -bone,  and  going  crofshis  mout^, 
almofl  fevered  the  lower  part  of  his  face  from  the  up- 
per. I  had  jufl  the  fatisfaclion  to  fee  him  fall,  when 
amufket  ball  went  through  the  brawny  part  of  my 
right-arm,  and  at  the  fame  time,. a  Turk  hit  me  jull 
in  the  nape  of  the  neck  wit!',  the  butt  end  of  his  mulk' 
et,  that  I  fell  down  flat  en  my  face,  on  the  body  of 
mj  (bin  enemy.  My  companions,  all  but  one,  who 
died  of  his  wounds  foon  after,  fell  honourably  by  my 
fide.  The  Tu^ks  pcurcd  in  from  both  fliips  like 
wolves  upon  their  prey.  After  their  barbarous  Ihouls 
and  yelling  for  the  vi(^ory,  they  fell  to  ftripping  the 
dead  bodies,  and  threw  them  into  the  fea  without 
any  further  ceremony.  All  our  crew  belide  myfclf, 
were  flain,  orgafping,  with  threefcore  and  fifteen  of 
\he  enemy.  The.reafon  why  we  fought- fo  defpe- 
rately  was,  that  we  knew  very  well,  having  killed  fo 
many  at  the  full  attacks,  we  were  to  expect  no  quar- 
ter ;  fo  we  were  refolved  to  fell  our  lives  as  dear  as 
we  could.  When  they  came  to  ftrip  me  like  the  reft» 
Iwasjuft  come  to  myielf,  being  only  ilunned  by  tlie 
(Irokeof  the  muikct.  They  found  by  ray  cloaths, 
that  I  was  one  of  the  moil  confiderable  perfons  of  the 
crew.  I  had  got  upon  my  knee^,  endeavouring  to 
rife,  and  reaching  f<.;r  fword  to  defend  myl'elfto  the 
laft  gafp  ;  1  found  I  could  not  bold  it  in  my  hand,  by 
reafon  of  the  wound  in  my  arm,  though  if  1  could,  it 
had  been  needlefjs  ;  for  three  of  them  fell  down  upon 
me,  and  preflcd.me  to  the  deck,  while  others  brought 
cords  S:  tied  my  hands, to  cany  me  to  the  captain.  He 
was  drefiing  a  llight  wound  he  I'.ad  in  his  legwitha 
piftol  ihot  ;  and  four  women  in  Perfian  habits  were 
landing  by;  three  of  whom  leemed  to  be  attendants  to 
the  fourth,  wlio  was  a  perion  r>f  tlie  largell  fize,  about 
five  or  fix-and  twenty,  a  moft  exquiiite  beauty,  ex- 
cept that  {be  had  an  Amazonian  kind  of  Bercenefs  in 
ber  looks.  When  I  was  brought  thus  bound  to  the 
«(i.a]^nain,    thc^  aifured    liioi  I  was  the  man  that  had 


OAUDENTIO    DI    LUCC.t.  ^^t 

flain  bis  brother,  and  dsne  the  mofl:  harm  of  any.  Up- 
on which,  ftarting  up  in  the  greateft  fury  a  barbariart 
Was  capable  of,  and  calling  for  a  new  fcymitar  he  liad 
in  his  cabin,  he  laid — 'Let  me  cleave,  if  I  can,  tho 
'  head  of  this  ChriiHan  dog,  as  he  did  my  poorbro- 

*  ther's  :  and  then  do  you  chop  him  into  a  thoufand 

*  pieces.  With  that  he  drew  the  fcymitar,  and  was 
going  to  ftrike,  when,  to  the  aClonilliment  of  the  very 
Barbarians,  the  ftrange  lady  cried  out— '  O  fave  the 
'  brave  young  man  1'  and  immediately  falling  down 
on  her  knees  by  me,  catched'  me  in  her  arms,  and 
clafping  me  clofe  to  herbofom,  covered  my  body  with 
hers,  and  cried  out — '  Strike, cruel  man,  but  ftrike 
'  through  me,  for  otherwife  a  hair  of  his  head  Iball  not 
'be  hurt.'  The  Barbarians  that  ftood  round  us 
were  ftruck  dumb  with  amazem.ent  ;  and.  the  pirate 
himfelf  lifting  up  his  eyes  towards  heaven,  faid, 
with  a  groan    enough    to  break    his   heart — '  How, 

*  cruel  woman  1  (liall  this  ftranger  in  a  moment  obtain 

*  more  than  I  can  with  all  myfighs  and  tears  !  Is  this 

*  your  paramour  that  robs  me  of  what  I  have  fought 
'  for  wkti  the  danger  of  life?  No,  this  chriftian  dog 
'  fliall  be  no  longer  my  curfed  rival  1'  and  lifting  up 
his  hand,  was  again  going  to  llrike,  when,  covering 
me  more  clofely  with  her  delicate  body,  (he  cried  out 
again — '  Hold,  Hamet !  this  is  no  rival ;  I  never  faw 
'  his  face  before  nor  ever  will  again,  if  you  will  but 

*  fpare  his  life  :  grant  me  this,  and  you  fliall  obtain 
'  more  from  me,  than  all  your  fervices  could  ever  do.' 
Here  he  began  to  paufe  a  little.  For  my  part,  I  v/as 
a.s  much  in  amaze  as- he  was.     After  a  little  paufe — 

*  Cruel  woman,'  laid  he,  'what  is  the  meaning  of  this  V 
Says  fli6 — '  There  is  fomething  in  this  young  man,' 
(for  I  was  but  turned  of  nineteen)  *  that  he  muft  not 
'  die.  But,  if  3''ou  will  engage  and  fwcar  by  the  mod: 
'  holy  Alcoran,  that  you  will  do  him  no  harm,  I  not 

*  only  promile  to  be  your    wife,  but,  to  take  off  all 

*  umbrage  of  jealoufy,  I  give  you  leave  to  fell  bin 


32  GAUDENTIO    DT  LUCCA. 

'  to  fome  honourable  perfon  for  a  Have  ;  and  v/lllnc- 
'  ver  fee  him  more'  Nor  would  flic  part  from  me, 
till  he  had  iworn  in  that  ^folcmn  manner,  never  to 
do  mc  any  hurt  dirc(^ly  or  indirc<flly  ;  and,  for  greater 
fecurity,  flie  ordered  one  other  own  fervants  to  at- 
tend me  conftantly.  So  1  was  unbound  j  and  the  lady, 
without  fo  much  as  looking  at  me  or  Haying  to  receive 
my  thanks,  retired  with  her  women  into  the  cabin. — 
The  pirate,  who  had  fomethi  ng  very  noble  in  his  lot)ks 
for  a  I'urk, confirmed  again  to  me  in  the  hearing  of  her 
officer,  that  I  Ihould  receive  no  harm  ;  and  then  or- 
dered me  to  be  carried  under  deck  to  the  other  end 
of  the  (hip  ;  commanding  his  men  to  fleer  back  for 
Alexandria,  in  order,  as  I  fuppofed,  to  difpofe  of  me 
thefn-l\:opportunity,thathe  might  be  rid,  as  he  thought, 
of  fo  formidable  a  rival.* 

^Secretary.  Here  the  fuperiot  of  the  Inquifition  re- 
ceiving a  meifagc  on  fonie  other  bufinefs,  we  told 
liim  we  would  confider  furtlierof  thij  account  he 
had  given  us,  which,  we  faid,  might  be  true,  though 
the  adventure  was  extraordinary ;  and  that  we 
would  hear  the  remaining  narrative  of  his  life  ano- 
ther time.  He  affurcd  us  with  the  moil  natural 
air,  that  the  whole,  let  it  feern  never  i'o  extraordi- 
nary, was  real  fa<it.  Whether  it  were  true  or  falfe, 
it  did  not  much  concern  the  holy  office,  only  fo  far 
as  wo  might  catch  him  tripping  in  his  Itory  :  how- 
ever, fome  of  the  inquifitors  alkcd  him  the  follow- 
ing queftions. 

•  This  is  an  odd  adventure  enough  ;  hut  the  c'.rcumflan-- 
ces  'are  pretty  well  connctTted  together.  There  happen  very 
ftrangc  accidents  among  thofe  lawiefs  Eallem  people,  and 
the  w'dd  Arabs,  whoobfcrve  no  rules  but  wliat  the  lions  and 
tigers,  could  they  fpeak,  would  make  tor  their  own  prefer- 
vation.  1  fear  there  are  fouic  wh.o  prciVfs  thenifelves  QiinCr- 
tians  would  do  the  i\\\ie. 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA,  33 

I  ft  Inquisitor,     Why  did  you  not  yield  at  firft,  con- 
fidering  the  prodigious  inequality  of  your  ftrength 
and  numbers,  when  you  might  have  been  ranibraed 
afterwards  ;  and  not  like    madmen,  expofe  your- 
felves  to  be  cut  in  pieces,  as  they  all   really  were, 
except  yourfeif  ? 
Gaudentio.     I  told  your  Reverences,  we  had  put  our 
all  in  that  bottom  ;  which  once  loft,  we  had  nothing 
to  ranfom  ourfelves    with,  but   in    all  likelihood 
mud  have  remained  in  miferable  flavery  all  our  lifci 
We  were  mod  of  us  rafli  )^oung  men,  of  more  cou- 
rage  than   prudence ;  we  did  not    doubt  but   w^ 
could  keep  them  off  from  boarding  us,  as  we  did  ; 
and  thought,  by  their  warm  reception,  they  would 
hnve  been  forced  to  flieerofF;    befides,    fighting  a- 
gainil  Turks -and  infidels  though  for  our  lives  and 
fortunes,  we  judged  meritorious  at  the  fame  time, 
and  that  it  might  be  looked  upon  as  laying  dowH 
our  lives  for  our  holy  religion, 
%d  Inquisitor,     You  laid  that  the  ftrange  lady  cried - 
out — '  There  is  fojnething  in  that  young  man,  that 
'  tells  me,  be  must  not  die :'  I  hope  you  do  not  pre* 
tend  to  the    fcience  of  phyficgnomy  ;    which   is 
one  of  the  branches  of  divination  ;  or    that  an  in- 
fidel or  Heathen  woman  could  have    the   fpirit  of 
prophecy  \ 
Gaudentio,     I  cannot  tdl  what  was  her   motive  for 
faying  fo  ;  I  only  relate  matter  of  fa£l.     As  for  phy- 
fiognomy,  I  do  not  think  there  can  be  any  certain- 
ty in  it.     Not  but  thafi    a  perfon  of   penetration, 
who  has  obferved  the  humours  and  paflions  of  men, 
and  confidering  the  little  care  the  generality  of  the 
world  take  to  conceal  them  ;    I  fay,  fuch  a  perfon 
may  give  a  great  guefs,  a  posteriori^  how  they  are 
inclined  ;  though  reafon  and  virtue  may  indeed  o- 
vercome  the  moft  violent.     But  I  entirely  fubmit 
my  opinion  to  your  better  judgments. 
Secretary,     I  cannot  fay,  we  were   difTatisfied  witH 


34  CAUD2>:TI0   di    lucca, 

thcfe  anf\Ters  :  xvc  law  he  Mas  a  very  noble  prc- 
fcncc  ;  and  mull  have  bcru  extremcl  /  hnnJfome  in 
his  youth:  therefore  no  woiider  a  liarbarian  wo- 
man ihouid  fall  in  love  with  hi.Ti,aiid  m  iSce  ufe  of 
that  turn  to  lave  hij  li£e.  However,  i'o:  the  pre- 
fent,  wo  remanded  him  back  to  his  apartment. — 
Sovac  days  after  he  was  called  again  to  profecute 
liis  ilory.]    • 

While  1  was  under  dsck  m  confinement  with  the 
pirates,  feveral  of  tliem  were  tolerably  civil  to  me  ; 
knowing  the  aicendant  die  hitXy  had  over  their  cap- 
tain, and  being  witnelles  how  ilic  hud  fared  ray  life. 
But  yet  flie  would  not  confent  to  marry  hij}i,  till  Ihe 
wjis  aiTurcd  I  was  fafe  out  of  his  ii^.nds  .  The  arch- 
pirate  never  came  to  fee  me  himiclf,  not  being  willing 
to  trufthis  paflion  ;  or  elfe  to  watch  all  favourable 
opportunities  of  waiting;  on  his  miftrefs.  One  day, 
being  indifpofed  for  want  of  air,  I  begged  to  be  carri- 
ed upon  deck  to  breathe  a  little;  when  1  came  up,  I  faw 
the  ladv,  with  her  women,  (binding  at  the  other  end 
of  the  Ihip  on  the  lame  account.  I  made  her  a  very 
refpc<flful  bow  atadillance  ;  bat  as  foon  as  ever  (lie 
call  her  eye  on  me,  flie  went  down  into  the  cabin,  I 
luppofe,  to  keep  her  promifc  with  the  captain,  and 
not  to  adminillcr  any  cauie  of  jeuloufy.  1  delired  to 
be  carried  down  again,  not  to  hinder  my  benefai^refs 
from  taking  her  diverlion.  I  camiot  fay  I  found  in 
myfelf  the  Icall  inclination  or  euiotion  of  love,  only  a 
fenfe  of  gratitude  for  fo  great  a  benefit ;  not  without 
fome  admiration  of  the  oddnefs  of  the  adv.enture. — 
When  I  was  below,  1  alked  the  mofl  fcnfible  and  civil- 
ized of  the  pirates,  who  their  captain  was,  and  who 
wa!s  my  fair  deliverer.  How  long,  and  by  what  means 
file  came  to  be  among  them;  becaule  flie  ieemed  to 
be  a  perfon  of  much  higher  rank.  He  told  me  his 
captain's  name  was  Hamet,  fon  td  the  Dey  of  Al- 
giers ;  who  hadforfaken  his  father's  houfe  on  account 
of  his  young  mother-in-law's  falling  in  love  with  hiui» 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  35 

For  which  reafon  his  father  had  contrived  to  have 
him  afiaflinated,  believing  him  to  be  in  the  fault.  Biit 
his  yoimger  brother  by  the  fame  motlier,  difcovered 
the  defign.  So  gathering  together  a  band  of  ft  out 
young  men  like  themfelves,  they  feized  two  of  their 
father's  beft  fliips,  and  refolved  to  follow  the  profef^- 
on  they  were  now  of,  till  they  heard  of  the  ir  father's 
death.  That  as  for  the  lady  wholiad  faved  my  life, 
flie  was  the  late  wife  of  a  petty  prince  of  the  Curdi,^ 
tributary  to  the  King  of  Perlia,  whofe  hulband  had 
been  lately  killed  by  treachery,  or  in  an  ambufcade  of 
the  wild  Arabs.  That,  as  far  as  he  had  been  inforrci- 
ed,  the  prince  her  hufband  had  been  fent  by  the  king 
his  mafter  to  Alexandria^  ;  who,  apprehending  an  in- 
farreftion  among  his  fubje6ls,J  had  ordered  him  to 
treat  for  fome   troops  of  Aral3ian  horfe,§     That  he 

•  The  Curdi,  or  people  of  Curdiflan,  are  a  warlike  nation, 
paying  a  fmnli  tribute  to  the  Perfians,  and  fomctimes  to  the 
'J'nrks  ;  their  very  women  are  martial,  and  handle  the  fword 
and  pike.  The  courhtry  runs  from  the  Aliduli,  a  mountain- 
ous people,  made  tributary  to  the  Turks,  by  Selim  I.  father  of 
Soliman  the  Magnificent,  and  reaches  as  far  as  Armenia. 

t  Alexandria  is  a  fea-port,  at  the  further  end  of  the  Me- 
diterranean, beloi>ging  to  the  Turks,  but  nuich  frequented  by 
Arabian  merchants,  both  by  land  and  fea.,One  point  of  Cur- 
diftan  is  not  far. from  this  port. 

\  This  infurredion  he  fpeaks  of  might  be  the  feeds,  or  the 
firU  plotting  of  the  grand  rebellion  of  Merowits,  which  began 
about  the  date  of  this  account,  and  caufed  fi*ch  a  terrible 
revolution  in  the  Perfian  empire  ;  which  no  one  who  under- 
ftands  any  thing  can  be  ignorant  of. 

^  The  Arabian  horfes  are  the  belt  in  the  world,  though  not 
very  large.  The  horfemen  are  very  dextrous  in  the  Eaftern 
way  of  fighting.  On  which  account  one  cannot  wonder  if 
the  King  of  Perfia,  and  his  rebellious  fubjeds,  made  it  their 
jntereft: to  procure  as  many  auxiliaries  as  ihcy  could.  It  is 
very  likely  the  little  parties  would  always  be  on  watch,  to 
lurprize  one  another  when  they  coulu  find  an  opportunity^ 


3^  OAUDtXTIO   Dr    LUCCA. 

went  there  with  a  very  handfome  eqiiipapje^  and  to o^ 
his  beautiful  wife  aloivj;  with  him.  ^Our  captain, 
continued  he,  *  haj'pcncd  to  be  there  at  the  fame  time 

*  to  fell  his  prizes,  and  liad  not  only  iold  f^veral  things 
'  of  great  value  to  the  Curditli  lord  and  lady,  but  had 
'  contraded  a  particular  friendlliip  with  him,  thougli, 
'  as  we  found  fince,  it  was  more  on  account  of  his  fair 

*  wife  than    any  tiling  clfe.      Nothinii  in  the  world 

*  could  be  ni'jre  obfequious  than  our  captain.  H3  at- 
'  tended  them,  and  ofi'ored  his  fervice  on  alloccafions  ; 
*you  fee  he  is  a  very  handfome  man,  and  daring  by 
'  his  profelRon.  We  could  not  imagine  for  a  long 
'  while,  v/hy  he  made  fuch  a  Hay  at  that  town,  contra- 
'  ry  to  his  cuftom ;  living  at  a  very  high  rate,  as  men 
'of  our  calling  generally  do.  At  length  the  Curdilh 
*-lord  having  executed  his  commillion,  was,  upon  the 
'return,  when  wp perceived  our  captain  to  grow  ex- 
'  tremely  penfive  and  melancholy,  but  could  not  tell 
'  what  was  the  caufe  of  it.     He  called    his   brother, 

*  who  loft  his  life  by  yourhsind,  and  me  to  him,  and 
» told  us  in  private,  he  had  obfcrved  fome  of  the  Ara- 
'bian  flrangers  muttering  together,  as  if  they  were 

*  hatching  fome  plot  or  other,  whether  againll  hinilelf, 

*  or  the  Curd,  he  could  not  tell ;  but  bid  us  be  fure 

*  to  attend  him  well  armed  wherever  he  went.  The 
'  event  proved  he  had  reafon  for  his  fuf])icions  ;  for 
',one  evening,  as  the  Curd  and  his  wife  were  taking 
'  the  air,  with  our  captain  who  was  always  one  of 
*-the  party,  palling  through  a  little  grove  about  a 
'league  out  of  town,  fix  Arabian  horfcmen,  exceed- 
'  ingiy  well  mounted,  came  lull  gallop  up  to  us  ;   and 

*  without  faying  a  word,  two  of  them  fired  their  pif- 
'  tols  direfdy  at  the  Curdilh  lord,  wlio  was  the  fore- 

*  moft,  but  by  good  fortune  miffed  us  all.  The  Curd, 
'as  all  that  nation  are     naturally   brave,  drew  his 

And  this  petty  Gurdian  prince  being  zealous  far  tbc  fervice 
ot  his  king,  might  be  taken  off  by  the  rebels  that  way. 


GAUDF.NTIO    DI    LUCCA.  37 

fcymetar,  and  rudiing  in  among  them,  cut  oW,  the 
foremolt  man's  head,  as  clean  as  if  it  had  been  a 
poppy  ;  but  advancing  too  far,  unarmed  as  he  was, 
one  of  them  turned  fliort,  and  Ihothim  in  the  flank, 
that  he  dropped  down  dead  immediately.  Our  cap- 
tain feeing  him  fall,  ru (lied  in  like  lightning,  his  bro- 
ther and  myfelf  falling  on  them  at  the  fame  time  : 
but  the  aflalEns,  as  if  they  wanted  nothing  but  tlie 
death  of  the  Curd,  or  fawby  our  countenances  their 
flaying  would  cofl  them  dear,  immediately  turn- 
ed their  horfes,  and  fleJ  fo  fvviftly  on  their  jen- 
nets, that  they  were  out  of  fight  in  an  inRant.  We , 
condu£led  the  poor  difconfoiate  lady  and  her  dead 
hufband  back  to  the  town,  where  thofe  people  made 
no  more  of  it  (beingaccuftomed  tofuch  things)  than 
if  it  had  been  a  common  accident.  When  her  grief 
was  a  little  abated,  our  captain  told  the  lady,  that 
it  was  not  fafe  for  her  to  return  home  the  fame  way 
file  came  ;  that  in  all  probability,  thofe  who  killed 
her  hulband  were  in  confederacy  with  the  difaffet^b- 
ed  party,  and  would  way-lay  her,  either  for  his  pa- 
pers, or  her  goods.  I'hat  he  had  two  fiiips  well 
jpanned  at  her  fervice,  and  would  condu6l  her  fafe 
by  fea  to  fome  part  of  the  Perfian  empire,  from 
whence  flie  miglit  get  into  her  own  country.  She 
confented  at  lall,  having  feen  liovv'-  gallantly  my  mal- 
ter  had  behaved  in  her  defence.  So  Qie  came  aboard 
with  her  attendants  and  effeds,  in  order  to  be  tranf- 
ported  into  her  own  country.  Our  captain,  you 
may  be  fure,  was  in  no  hade  to  carry  her  home,  be- 
ing  fallen  mod  defperately  in  love  with  her:  io  that 
inltead  of  carrying  her  to  any  of  '^^e  Perfian  domi- 
nions, he  dire^^ed  liis  courfe  for  Algiers,  hearing  his 
father  was  dead  ;  but  meeting  with  you, it  has  made 
him  alter  his  meafures  for  the  prelent.  He  has  tri- 
ed all  ways  to  gain  her  love,  but  Ihe  would  not  give 
him  the  lead  encouragement,  till  this  late  accident, 

D 


3B  CAUDE>JTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

*bv  which  (lie  favcd  your  life.'  Wlien  lie  hnd  end- 
cfl'his  relp.lion,  I  rcflcaea  on  it  n  good  while,  and  con- 
fdcring  the  nature  of  thofe  pirates,  I  ihoui^ht  I  taw 
a  i)icfc  of  treachery  in  the  aflair,  much  more  black 
than  what  he  dcfcribed,  an<l  could  not  f  '  com- 
rr.frionr.tinn;  the  poor  lady,  botli  for  her  ^  r,  and 

tlic  company  (lie  was  fallen  into.  However,  1  kept 
my  thoughts  to  myfelf.  Not  lono;  after  we  arnvcd 
T\t  Alexandria,  where  the  pirate  fold  all  our  t fleas, 
that  is,  the  merchr.ndizc  he  had  taken  aboard  our 
•fliip,  except  fome  particular  things  that  belonged  to 
TTV  brother  and  myfelf,  as  books,  papers,  maps  and 
fea-charts,  piaurcs,  and  the  like.  Me  determined  to 
-carry  me  to  Grand  Cairo,*  the  firll  oppoituniiy,  to 
ftll  me,  or  evenirive  mc  away  to  a  ftrange  merchant 
he  had  rn  acquaintance  wilh,  wlu^re  I  ihould  never  be 

heard  of  more.  ,    ,     .  n 

•     Nothingremarkable  happened  during  our  Itay   at 

Alexandria  ;  thcv  told  me  the  captain  had  been  m 
•an  extraordinary  good  humour,  ever  fince  the  lady  s 
■promifc  to  marry  h\m.  But  Ihe,  to  be  furc  he  fliould 
4ot  deceive  her  by  doing  me  any  injury  when  1  was 

out  of  the  fliip,  ordered  her  ofKeer  to  attend  me 
-'^vhcrcvcrIwa5c:lrried,  tilllwasput  in  Infe  hands, 
'sind  entirely  out  of  the  pirate's   power.  ^  AVhen  we 

wererrrivedatGrandCuiro,  I  was    earned   to    t.u- 


-tordi'^.'jto  his  miftrcfs's  order,  never  (lirrcd  an   inch 

'from  ire,  to  witnefs  tlie  performance  of  articles.     At 

-leneth,thep!rnt\  and  a  llrange  merchant  fpicd  one 

another  almoO  at 'the  inftant,  and  advancing  the  fame 

way,  lldutcd   each  other  in  the   Turkifh   language, 

•  Grand  Cairo  is  the  place  of  refiderxe  of  the  great  BafTa 
pi  Egypt)  ^^''Z"^^^  "P  ^^"^  country,  on  the  river  Ni'c, 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  39 

Which  I  uriderilood  tolerably  well.     After  fome  mu- 
tual compriments,  the  pirate  told  him  he  had  met  with 
fuch  a  perfon  he  had  promiied  to   procure  for    him 
two  years  before,  meaning  myfelf,  only  I  was  not  aa. 
eunuc/j,  hut  that  it  was  in  his  power  to  make  me  fo, 
if  he  pleafed.     Your  Reverences  cannot  doubt  but  I 
was  a  little  ilartled  at  fuch  afpcech,  and  was  going  to 
reply,  that  I  would  lofe  my  life  a  thoufand  times,  be- 
fore I  would  fuffer  fuch  an   injury.     But    the  lady's 
officer  turned  to  the  pirate,  and  faid,   he  had  engaged 
to  his  lady  I  fliould  receive    no  harm  ;  and  that  he 
mud  never  expe£l  to  obtain  Iier  for  his  wife,  irlhe  had 
the  leaft  fuipicion  of  fuch  a  thing.     But  tlie  merchant 
foon  put  us  out  of  doub!:,  by  affuring  us,  that   it  was 
againd  their  laws  to  do  fuch  an  injury  to  any  one  of 
their  own  fpecies  ;  but  if  it  were  done  before  they 
could  not  helo  it.     Then  lurnino;  to  me,   he  faid  ia 
very  good   Lingua  France — •  Young  man,  if  I  buy 
*you,  1  iliail  foon  convince  you,  you  need  sot  appre- 
*  hend  any  fuch  ufage  from  me.'     He   eved  me  frojn 
top  to  toe,  with  the  mofl  penetrating  look  I  ever  faw 
in  my  lite  ;  yet  feemed  pleaied  at  the  fame  time.     He 
was  very  richly  clad,  attended  with  t'vvo   young  men 
in  the  fame  kind  of  drefs,  thcugli  not  rich,  A'ho  feem- 
ed rather  fons  than  fervants.     His  age  did  not  appear 
to  me  to  be  above  forty,  yet  had  the  mofc  ferene  and  al- 
mofl:  venerable  lock  imaginable.  His  complexion  was  ra- 
ther browner  than  that  of  the  Egyptians,  but  it  feem- 
ed to  be  more  the  efledl  of  travelling,    than  natural. 
In  [hort,  he  had  an  air  fo  uncommon,  that  I  was   a- 
mazed,  and  began  to  have  as  great  an  opinion  of  him, 
as  he  ieemed  to   have  of  me.     Heafked  thtf  pirate 
what  he  mull  give  for  m.e ;  he   told  h.im,  I  had  coil: 
him  very  dear,  and  with  that  recounted  to  him  all 
thf  circumflances  of  the  fight  wherein  I  was    taken; 
and,  to  give  him  liis  due,  reprefented  it   no  ways   to 
my    di ['advantage.     However,    tkefe    were  not   the 
c^uaUfications  the  merchant  defired  ;  what  he  wanted 


40  CAUDrNTiO    DI    LUCCAr 

was  a  perfon  who  was  a  fcholar,  and  could  give  him  anr 
account  ofthe  arts  and  Tciences,  laws,   cufloms,  8\C, 
of  the  ChriQians.  This  the  pirate  r.fl\ircd  1,1m  I  could 
do  ;  that  I  wnj  an  European  Chriftian,  and  a  fcholar, 
as  he  gucdtd  by  my  books  ami  writings  ;  that  I  un- 
derftood  navigation,  geography,  aftroncnnv,  and  feve- 
ral  otliCr  fcienccs.     I   was  out   of   countenance  to 
hear  him  talk  To;  for  though  I  had   as    much  know- 
ledge of  thofe  fciences  os  cculd   be    expe»^ed    from 
one  of  mv  years,  yet  my  age  would  not  permit  me  to 
bemafter  of  them,  but  only  to  have  the  firfl  principles, 
bv  which  I  jriight  improve  myfelf  afterwards. 
[Scc'rt'tt2ry.      Ihc  Inquifitors  demurred   a  little     at 
this,  fearing  he  might  be  addi^ed  to  judicial  aftrcl- 
ogy  ;  but  confidering  he  had  gone  through  a  courle 
of  philofophy,  and  was   defigned  for  the  fea,  they 
knew  he  was  obliged  to  have  fome    knowledge   in 
thofe  fcienccs.] 

The  pirate  teld  him,  I  had  fome  {kill  in  mufic 
?.nd  prirstirg,  having  Icen  fome  inih'umcnts  and  books 
of  thofe  arts  among  my  effcsils,  nnd  ii(ked  me  if  it  were 
not  i'o,  I  told  hifn,  all  young  gentlemen  ot  liberal  e- 
f^ucation  in  my  ccuntr)-,  karnt  ihefe  arts,,  and  that  I 
had  a  competent  knowledge  and  genius  that  way. — 
This  determined  the  merchant  to  purchafe  me.  Wlieii 
ihcy  came  to  the  price,  the  pirate  demanded  forty 
ounces  of  native  gold,  and  three  of  thofe  fdk  carpets, 
he  law  there  with  him,  to  make  a  prefent  to  the 
<irand  Siernior.  The  merchant  ao-^eed  with  him  at 
the  fiifl  word  ;  only  demanded  all  the  books,  globes, 
mathematical  inilruments,  and,  in  fuic,  whatever  re- 
mained of  my  effe^^s,  into  the  bargain.  The  pirate  a- 
•;i-ced  to  this,  as  ealily  as  the  other  did  to  the  price  ; 
Jo,  upon  performance  of  articles  on  both  lides,  1  was 
delivcTtdto  him.  As  foonas  I  was  put  into  his  pow- 
er, he  embraced  me  with  a  great  deal  of  tendernefs, 
faying,  I  fliould  not  repent  my  change  of  life.  His 
attendants  came  up  to  me,  and  embraced  me  in   the 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  4^ 

fame  manner,  calling  me    Brother,    and  expreiTing  a 
great  deal  of  joy  for  having  me  of  their  company. — • 
The  merchant  bid  them  take  me  down  to  the  caravan- 
fera  or  inn,  that  I  might  refrelli  myfelf,  and  change  my 
habit  to  the  fame  as  the)  wore.     I   was  very    much 
furprized  at  fuch  unexpected  civilities  from  ftrangers. 
But,  before  1  went,  I  turned  to  the  pirate,  and   faid 
to  him  witli  an  air,  that  made  the  merchant  put  on  a 
very  thoughtful  look,  that  I  thanked  him  for  keeping 
his  promife  in  faving  my  life  ;  but  added,  that  though 
the  fortune  of  war  had  put  it  in  his  pov/er  to  fell  me 
like  a  bead  in  the  market,  it  might   be   in  mine  fome 
time  or  other    to  render    the   like   kindnefs.     Then 
turning  to  the  lady's  officer,  who  had  been  my  guar- 
dian fo  faithfully,  and  embracing  him  with  all  imagin- 
able tendernefs,  I  begged  him  to  pay  my  beft  refpeils 
to  my  fair  deliverer  ;  and  affure  her,  that  I  fliould  ef- 
teem.  it  the  greateft  happinefs  to  be  one  day    able  ta 
make  a  return  for  fo  unparalleled  a  favour,  though  it 
were  at  the  expence  of  that  life  flie  had  fo  generoully 
faved.     So  we  parted,  the  pirate  grumbling  a   little 
within  himfelf ;  and    I   in  an    amazing  fufpenfe,  to 
know  what  was  likely  to   become  of  me.     As  they 
were  condudino;  me  to  the  caravanfera  where  thev 
lodged,  I  was  full  of  the  forrowful  refledion,  that    I 
was  ftill  a  flave,  though  I  had  ciianged  my    mafter : 
but  my  companions,  who  were  fome  of    the    hand- 
fomeft  young  men  I  ever  law  in   my    life,  comforted 
me  with  the  moll  endearing  words,  telling  me,    that 
I  need  fear  nothing  ;  that  I  fliould  efteem  myfelf  one 
of  the  happiell  men  in  the  world,  when    they    were 
arrived  fafe  in  their  own  country,  which  they  hoped 
would  be  before  long  ;  that  I  fliould  then  be  as  free 
as  they  were,  and  follow  what  employment  of  life  my 
inclinations  led  mc  to,  v/itiiout  any  reflraint  whatfo- 
ever.     In  fine,  their  difcourfe  filled  me  with  frefli  ff- 
mazetncnt,  and  gave  me  at  the  iiune  time   an  eager 

D  % 


42  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

longing  to  fee  the  event.  I  perceived  they  cViJ  not 
keep  any  ftri<^  guard  on  rnc  ;  that  I  verily  believed  I 
could  eafily  have  give  them  tl^e  flip  ;  and  might  have 
gotten  fume  Armenian  Chriftian  to  conceal  me,  till 
I  flioidd  findan  opportunity  of  retiring  into  my  own 
country.  But,  having  lo(t  all  my  cffe<fU,  I  thought  I 
could  Icarcc  be  in  a  wori'e  condition,  and  was  re- 
folved  to  run  all  ha?:ards.  A\'hen  I  came  to  the 
boufe,  I  was  ftruck  with  wonder  at  the  magnificence 
of  it,  eiipecially  at  the  richnefs  of  the  furniture.  It 
was  one  of  the  beftin  rdl  (rrand  Cairo,  though  built 
lov/  r.ccording  to  the  cuilom  of  the  country.  It  feems 
they  alwaj-^s  ilaid  a  year  before  they  returned  into 
their  own  country,  and  fpnrcd  no  coft  to  make  their 
bariihmcntT  as  thev  called  it^  as  eafy  as  they  could, 
I  was  entertLiined  \\  ith  all  the  rarities  of  F.gypt ;  the 
moft  delicious  fruits,  and  thericheft  Greek  and  Aiia- 
tic  wines  that  could  be  tailed  ;  by  which  Haw  they 
were  not  Maliometans.  Not  knowing  what  to  make 
of  them,  I  ail;ed  them  who  they  were  i  of  what  coun- 
try, what  ie<5l  and  profeffion,  and  the  like.  They 
I'miledatmy  queftions,  and  tokl  me  they  were  chil- 
dren of  the  Sun,  aiid  were  called  Mczoranians  ;  which 
was  as  unintelligible  to  me  as  all  thercil:.  But  their 
country,  they  told  me,  I  fhould  fee  in  a  few  months, 
and  bid  me  afk  no  further  quellions.  Prefently  my 
mafler  came  in,  and  embracing  mc,  once  more  bid  me 
welcome,  with  fuch  an  engaging  afTability,  as  remov- 
ed almoft  all  my  fears.  But  what  followed,  filled  rae 
with  ihei'tmoll:  furprize.    *  Young  man,'  faid  h.e,  '  by 

*  the  laws  of  this  country  you  are  mine;  I  have  bt'Ught 

*  you  r.t  a  very  hi^t-h  price,  and  would  give  twice  as 

*  much  for  you,  it  it  were  to  be  done  again.  But,  con- 
tinued he,  with  a  more  ferious  air,  *I  know  no  juft 
*lawsin  the  univede,  that  can  make  a  frccborn  maa 
*become  a  Have  to  one  of  his    own  fpecies.     If  you 

*  will  voluntarily  go  along  wdth  us,  you  fliall  enjoy  as 

*  much  freedom  as  I  do  myfelf  :  you  Qiall  be  GxempC 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  4j 

*  from  all  the  barbarous  laws  of  'hefe  inhuman  coun- 

*  tries,  whofe  brutal  cuftoms  are  a  reproach  to  the  dicr- 

*  nity  of  a  rational  creature,  and  with  whom  we  have 

*  no  commerce,  but  to  enquire  after  arts  and  Iciences, 

*  which  may  contribute  to  the  common  benefit  of  our 

*  people.     Wc  are  bled  with  the  mofl:  opulent  country 

*  in  the  world  :  we  leave  it  to  your  choice,  to  go  alono* 
'  with  us,  or  not ;  if  the  latter,  I  here  give  you  your 

*  liberty,  and  reflore  to  you  all    that  remains  of  your 
'  efFe6ls,  with  what  afliftance  you  want    to  carry  you 

*  back  again  into  your  own  country.     Only,  this  I  muft 
'  tell  yoLi,  if  you  go  with  us,  'tis  likely  you  will  never 
*come  back  again,  or    perhaps  defire  it.'     Flere  he 
flopped,  and  ohlerved  my  countenance  with  a  great 
deal  of  attention.     I  was  ftruck  with  fuch  admiration 
of  his  generofity,  together  With  the  fentiments  of  joy 
for  my  unexpe<^ied  liberty,  and  gratitude  to  my  bene- 
faftor,  coming  into  my  mind  all  at  once,  that  1  had  as 
much  difficulty  to  believe  what  I  heard,  as  your  Rev- 
erences may  now  have  at  the  relation  of  it,  till  the  fe- 
quel  informs  you  of  the  reafons   for  fuch  unheard  o£ 
proceedings.     On  the  one  hand,  the  natural  deiire  of 
lib  jrty  prompted  me  to  accept  my  freedom  ;    on    the 
other,  I  confideredmy  fliattered  fortune;  that  I  was 
left  in  a  ftrange  country  fo    far  from    home,  among 
Turks  and  Infidels  ;  the  ardour  of  youth  excited  me 
to  pufh  my  fortune.     The    account  of  fo   glorious 
though  unknown  a  country,  ftirred  up  my  curiofity  ; 
I  faw  gold  was  the  lead  part    of  the  riches    of  thele 
people,  who  appeared  to  me  the  moll  civilized  I  ever 
faw  in  my  life,  but,  above  all,  thefenfe  of  what  I  ovr- 
edto  fo  noble  abenefa6lor,  who  1  faw  defired  it,  and 
had  me  as  much  in  his  power  now,  as  he  could   Jiave 
afterv/ards.     Thcfe  confiderations  almofl  determin- 
ed me  to  go  along  with  him.     I  had  continued  loi^'-er 
thus  irrefolutc,  andflu^uating  between  fo  many  dif- 
ferent thoughts,  if  he  had  not  brought  me  to  myfelf, 
by  faying — '  What  fay  you,  young  man,  to   my  pro- 


44  GAUDEXTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

'pofal  ?*  I  ft  anted  out  of  my  reveries,  ns  if  I  haJ  ft- 
>\  aked  from  a  real  dream ;  and  making  a  moil  profound 
reverence — *  My  lord,*  faidl/  or  railier  my  father 
*and  deliverer,  I  am  yours  by  all  the  liesof  i^ralitude 

*  a  human  heart  is  capable  of ;   I  refign  myfclf-to  yoiir 

•  conduci,  and  will  follow  you  to  the  end  of  llie  world.* 
This  I  faid  with  fuch  emotion  of  fpirit,  that  I  believe 
lie  law  into  my  very  foul,  for  embracing  mc  once 
more  with  a  moft  ine.spreflible  tenderncls — ^I  adopt 
'  you,'  laid  he,  *  for  my  Ton  ;  and  thefe  are  your  bro- 
'  thers,'  pojnlinp;  to  liis  two  young  companions  ;  'all 
'I  require  of  you  is,  that  you  live  as  luch.'  Here, 
reverend  Fathers,  I  mud  confeis  one  of  the  greatell 
faults  I  ever  did  in  my  life.  I  never  confidered 
whether  thefe  men  were  Chrirtians  or  Heathens:  I 
engaged  myfelf  with  a  peo[)lc  \\  here  I  could  never 
have  the  exerciie  of  my  religion,  although  I  always 
prefcrNed  it  in  my  heart.  But,  what  could  be  ex- 
pe(^Ld  from  a  daring  )  oung  man,  jull  in  the  heat  of 
liis  youth,  who  had  loll  all  his  fortune,  and  had  fuch 
fi  glorious  ]irofpc<ft  offered  him  for  retrieving  it  ?  Soon 
alter  tiiis,  he  gave  orders  to  his  attendants  to  with- 
draw, as  it  he  intended  to  lay  fomething  to  me  in 
private;  they  obeyed  immediately  with  a  filial  re» 
iped,  as  iflhey  had  indeed  been  his  fons,  but  tl^ey 
were  not ;  I  only  mention  it  to  fliew  the  nature  of 
the  people  1  was  engaged  with;  then  taking  me  by 
the  hand,  he  made  me  lit  down  by  him,  and  afked  me 
if  it  were  really  true,  as  the  pirate  informed  him,  that 
I  was  an  European  Chrillian?  'Though,'  added  he, 
*  be  what  you  will,  I  do  not  repent  my  buying  of  you.' 
I  told  him  1  was,  ai:d  in  that  belief  would  live  and 
die.  *  So  you  may,'  laid  he,  feemingly  pLafed  at  my 
anfwer.  'But  I  have  not  yet  met  with  any  of  that 
*•  part  of  the  world,  who  leemcd  to  have  the  dilpofi- 
'  tions  of  mind  I  think  I  fee  in  you,'  looking  at  the 
lineaments  of  my  face  with  a  great  deal  of  earneilnefs, 
'  1  have  been  iHiormed,'  continued  he, '  that  your  law* 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  Jfg 

*are  not  like  the  barbarous  Turks,  whole  government 

*  is  made  up  of  tyranny  and  brutality^   governing    all 

*  by  fear  and  force,  and  making  flaves  of  all  who  fall 

*  under  their  power*     Whereas  tlie  European  Chrif- 

*  tiaiis,  as  I  am  told,  are    governed  by  a  divine    law, 

*  that  Leaches  them  to  do  good  to  all,  injury  to    none  ; 

*  particularly  not  to  kill  and  deftroy  their  own  ij)ecies  f 

*  nor  to  fteal,  cheat,  over-reach,  or  defraud  any  one 
'  of  their  juft  due  ;  but  to  do  in  alltlnngs  juft  as  they 

*  would  be  done  by ;  looking  on  all  men  as  common 

*  brothers  of  the  fame  flock,  and   bahaving   with  juf- 

*  ticc  and  equity  in  all  their  a£lions,  public  and   pri- 

*  vate,  as  if  they  wei'e  to  give  an  account  to  the  uni- 

*  verfal  Lord  and  Father  of  all.'  I  told  him  our  law 
did  really  teach  and  command  us  to  do  fo ;  but  that 
very  few  lived  up  Co  this  law ;  that  we  were  obliged 
to  have  recourie  to  coercive  laws  and  penalties,  to 
enforce  what  we  acknowledged  otherwife  to  be  a 
duty  :  that  if  it  were  not  for  the  fear  of  fuch  punifli* 
ments,  the  greateil;  part  of  them  would  be  worle  than 
the  very  Turks  he  mentioned.  He  feemed  flrange- 
ly  furprized  at  this. — '  What,*  fays  he,  '  can  any  one 
*do  in  private,  what  his  own  realon  andfolema  pro- 
'  feiTion  condemns  i"  Then  addrefling  himfelf  to  me' 
in  a  more  particular  manner — ••  Do  you  profefs  this 
'juft  and  holy  lavv^  you  mentioned  V  I  told  him  I  did. 

*  Then,'  fays  he, '  do  but  live  up  to  ycur  own  law,  and 

*  we  require  no  more  of  you.'*     Here    he   made   a 

•  If  it  appear  incredible  to  any  one,that  He.ithens,as  thefe 
people  were,  (liould  have  fiu  h  ftridt  ideas  of  jnorahty  and 
juftice,  when  they  fee  fuch  horrid  iujuftice,  frauds  and  op- 
preifions,  among  Chrirtiavw,  let  them  confider  firft,that  the 
law  and  hght  ot  nature  will  never  be  entirely  extinguilhed 
in  any  who  do  notfhut  their  eyes  againft  it  ;  but  that  tUey 
would  efteem  the  injuries-  they  do  to  otliers,  without  any 
fcruple,  to  be  very  great  hardlliips  if  done  to  themfelves  > 
they  have  therefore  the  ideas  of  juftice  and  equity  imprinted 
in  their  minds,  however  obfcured  by  thiir  wicked  livci.  adly, 


46  CAVDEN'TIO    or    LUCCA^ 

little  noife  with  his  ftafT,  at  which  two  of  his  attend-*'] 
anis  came  in  ;  he  artced  them  if  my  cfl'c<5ls  were  come* 
from  the  pirate.  Being  anlwcred  they  were,  he  or- 
dered them  to  be  brought  in,  and  examined  them  ve- 
jy  nicely.  There  were  among  them  fomc  piftures  of 
my  own  drawing,  a  repeating  watch,  two  compafs 
boxes,  one  of  them  very  curioufly  wrought  in  ivory 
and  gold,  which  had  been  my  great  grandfather's,  giv- 
en him  by  V^encrio;  a  fet  of  mathematical  inllru- 
menis,  draught?  of  llatuary  and  artich«.«^\ure  by  the* 
bertinafters;  with  all  which  he  feemed  extremely 
pleai'ed.  After  he  had  examined  them  witii  a  great 
deal  of  admiration,  he  ordered  one  cf  his  attendants' 
to  reach  him  a  cabinet  fall  of  gold  ;  he  opened  it  to 
mc,  and  faid — '  Young  man,  1  not  only  rcllore  all  your 
'  effeds  here  prefcnt,  having  no  right  to  any  thing  that 

Let  them  read  t]:e  celebrated  IVifliop  of  Meaux's  Univerfal 
Hiftory,  pt.  ill.  of  die  moralh  and  ecji/ity  of  ihcanrient  Kgyp* 
liiuis  under  tlicir  great  king  Sefoflrls,  or  about  that  time. 
3dlv^  Not  only  the  lives  and  maxims  of  il.e  fiift  Heatbtn 
pbibfophers,  affoid  us  ver^'  juft  lulcs  of  mci alley,  but  there 
are  alfo  fragHients  of  ancient  Iil(l'.ry,fr6m  tl^e  earhcft  times, 
ofwkole  Heathen  nations,  whofe  lives  would  make  Chiillians 
blulh  at  thtir  own  immoralities  ;  if  they  were  not  hartlencd 
in  them.  The  people  of  Colchos,  Avhom  tlie  great  Boch.. in,  In 
his  Phaleg,  proves  to  have  been  a  colony  ot  ancient  Kgyptians, 
as  'v^lil  be  Icen  in  the  fequel  cf  tliefe  memolis,or  the  ancient 
inhabitants  of  I'ontus,  who  cooiefrom  them,  were  uccoidlrg 
to  Homer,  the  moft  jud  of  men. 

Milk-eaters  the  mofljnfl  of  men.     Hom.  II.  K. 

Chcerllus  In  Xerxls  Dlab.ifi  apud  Buchart,  fpeaklug  of  the 
Scythians  on  tiie  Knxlne  fca,('a)  s — 'they  were  a  colony  of  the 
Nomadas,  a  jnO  j)eople.* 

Strabo  favs.  that  AnacharPis  and  Abarls,  both  Sc>  tliians, 
were  cfleemcd  by  tlic  ancient  Greeks  lor  il.eir  peculiar  and 
national  afiablllty, probity ,and  juftlce  : — *  And  Nicholiuis  Da- 
mafcenus,  of  the  Galactophagi — ^*  they  are  the  moil  juft  of 
men.'  Vide  BjtHAST;  lib.  iil. 


GAUDENTTO    DI    LUCCA  47 

t'  belongs  to  another  man  ;  but  once  more  ofFer   you 
.  *  your  liberty,  and  as  much  of  this  gold  as  you  think 
.  *  lufficient  to  carry  you  home,  and  make  you  live  eafy 
. '  all  your  life.'     I  was  a   little   out  of  countenance, 
:  imagining  what  1  faid  of  the  ill   morals  of  Chridians 
had  made  him  afraid  to  take  me  along   with  him.     I 
told  him,  I  valued  nothing  now  fo  much  as  his  com- 
pany, and  begged  him  not  only  to  let  me  go  along  witli 
him,  but  that  he  would  bepleafed  to  accept  whatever 
he  faw  of  mine  there  before  him  ;  adding,  that  I  ef- 
teemed  itthegrcateft  happinefs,  to  be  able  to  make 
fome  fmall  recompence   for  the  obligations    I  owed 
him.       '  I  do  accept  of  it,'  faid  he,  '  and  take  you  fo- 
*  lemnly  into  my  care  ;  go  along   with  thefe  young 
'  men,  and  enjoy  your  liberty  in  effed,  which  I  have 
'  hitherto  only  given  you  in  words.'     Here  fome  of 
his  elder  companions  coming  in,  as    if  they  were  to 
confult  about    bufmefs,  the  young   men  and   myfelf 
went  to  walk  the  town  for  our  diverfion.     Your  Rev- 
^  erences  may  be  lure  I  obferved  all  the  a£lions  of  thefe 
.new  people,  with  the  greateft  attention  my  age  was 
.capable  of.     They.feemed  not  only  to  have  a  horror 
of  the  barbarous  manners  and  vices  of  the  Turlvs,  but 
even  a  contempt  of  all  the  pleafures  and  diverfionsof 
.the  country.     Their  whole  bufmefs  was  to  inform 
themfelves  of  what  they  thought    might   be  an   im- 
provement in  their  own  country,  particularly  in  arts 
and  trades,   and  whatever  cuiiofities    Vv^cre  brought 
from  foreign  parts  ;  fetting  down  tiieir    obiervations 
of  every  thing  of  moment.     They  had  mailers  of  the 
country  at  fet  hours  to  teach  them  the  Turkifli    and 
Perfian  languages,  in  which  I  endeavoured  to  perfec't 
myfelf  along  with  them.     Though   they  feemcd  to 
be  the  moll:  moral  men  in  the  world,  I   could  obferve 
no  figns  of  religion  in  them,  till    a  certain  occafioa 
that  happened  to  us  in  our  voyage,  of  wliich   1  fhall 
ipeak  to  your  Reverences  in  it's  proper  place.    This 
was  the  only  point  they  were  fliy  in  ;  they   gave  me 


4^  OAUOENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

the  reafons  for  il  nftcrwpjds  ;  but  their  behaviour 
was  the  moft  caJiJid  aiid  I'mcerc  in  other  matters  that 
can  be  inuigincd.  We  Hvcd  thus  in  the  inoft  perfcft 
union  all  the  linic  >ve  ftnid  at  Grnnd  Cairo  ;  and-I  en- 
joyed the  fan-.e  liberty  tliat  I  could  have  had  [n  Italy  : 
all  J  remarked  in  them  was  on  imcaiincfs  they  expref- 
fedtobc  fo  long;  out  ©f  their  own  counirv  ;  but  they 
comforted  themfelves  with  the  thought  it  w*>uidnot 
belong.  I  cannot  omit  one  obrervation  I  mndc  of 
thefe  yonng  men's  conduft  while  we  ftuid  in  Egypt. 
They  were  nil  about  my  own  age,  ftrongand  vigorou?, 
and  the  hai^dlbmell  race  of  people,  perhaps,  the  world 
€ver  produced  ;  we  were  in  the  moft  voluptuous  and 
lewd  town  in  the  whole  eaflcrn  empire;  the  young 
women  leemcd  ready  to  devour  us  as  we  went  along 
thcftrcets.  Yet  I  never  could  perceive  in  the  young 
men  the  Icafl  propcnfitv  of  lewdnefs.  I  imputed  it 
fit  flrfl  to  the  apj)rehcnrion  of  mv  being  in  their  com- 
pany, and  a  ft  ranger  ;  but  1  foon  found  they  a£\ed  by 
principle.  As  young  men  are  a[)t  to  encourage, 
or  i-ather  corru})t  one  another,  I  own  I  could  not  for- 
bear expreiPiFig  my  wonder  tit  it.  They  feemed  fur- 
prized  at  the  thought ;  but  che  reafons  they  ga\»e 
were  as  much  out  of  our  commoii  way  of  thinking,  as 
their  behaviour.  They  told  me,  for  the  full  reaion, 
that  all  the  women  they  faw  were  either  married  ; 
or  particular  men's  daughters  ;  or  common.  As  to 
married  women,  they  laid,  it  was  luch  an  heinous 
piece  of  injulllce  to  violate  the  marriage-bed,  that  c« 
very  man  living  would  look  upon  it  as  the  grcateft  in- 
jury done  to  himfelf  ;  how  could  they  therefore  in 
rculbn  do  it  to  another  ?  If  they  were  daughters  of 
particular  men,  bred  up  with  lomuch  care  andfolicU 
tude  of  their  parents,  what  a  terrible  {ifil)(flion  muft  it 
be  to  them,  or  to  ourfelves,  to  fee  our  daughters  or  fif- 
ters  violated  and  corrupted,  after  all  our  care  to  the 
contrary  ;  and  this  too,  perhaps,  by  thofe  we  had  che* 
nfhed  in  our  ownbofoms  ?  If  common  lU-uKvpets,  what 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  49 

rational  man  could  look  on  them  otherwife  than  brute 
beads,  to  prollitute  themlelves  to  every  ftranger  for 
b/ire  ?  Befides,  their  abandoned  lewdneis  generally 
defeats  the  great  delign  of  nature  to  propagate  the 
fpecies  ;  or  by  th'jir  impure  embraces,  fuch  diforders 
may  be  contracted,  as  to  make  us  hereafter,  at  beft, 
.but  fathers  of  a  weak  and  fickly  offspring.  And  if  we 
fliould  have  children  by  them,  what  would  become 
of  our  father's  grand-children  ?  But  Vvdiat  man  v/ho 
had  theleall  fenfe  of  the  dignity  of  his  own  birth, 
would  {lain  his  race,  and  give  birth  to  fuch  a  wretch- 
ed breed,  and  then  leave  them  expofed  to  want  and 
infamy  ?  This  they  faid  chiefly  with  reference  to  the 
vafl  ideas  they  had  of  their  own  nation,  valuing  them- 
felves  above  all  other  people  j  though  the  confidera- 
tion  holds  good  with  all  men.  I  own  I  was  mute  at 
thefe  reafons,  and  could  not  fay  but  they  were  very 
juft,  though  the  warmth  of  my  jouth  had  hindered  ms 
from  refleding  on  them  before.  Thefe  reflci^ions  ap- 
peared fo  extraordinary  in  young  men,  and  even  Hea- 
thens, that  I  ihall  never  forget  them.  Some  time 
after,  I  found  by  their  diligence  in  fettling  their  af- 
fairs, and  the  chearfulnefs  of  their  cou'Henances,  thac 
they  expe£led  to  leave  Egypt  very  foon  ;  they  feemed 
to  wait  for  nothing  but  orders  from  their  governor. 
In  the  mean  time  there  happened  an  accident  to  me, 
fcarce  fit  indeed  for  your  Reverences  to  bear;  nor 
fliould  I  ever  have  thought  of  relating  it,  had  you 
not  laid  your  commands  on  me  to  give  an  exa6l  ac- 
count of  my  whole  life.  Befides,  that  it  is  interwo- 
ven with  fome  of  the  chief  occurrences  of  my  life  in 
the  latter  part  of  it.  Our  governor,  whom  tjiey  cal- 
led Pophar,  which  in  their  language  fignifies  Father 
or  his  people,  and  by  which  name  1  fliall  always  call 
him  hereafter,  looking  at  his  ephemeris,  which  he  did 
very  frequently,  found  by  computation,  that  he  had 
Hill  fome  time  left  to  ftay  in  the  countn',  and  refolved 

E 


5©  GAUDFNTIO    DI     LUCCA. 

to  go  clown  once  more  to  Alexanclria,  to  fee  if  he 
could  meet  with  anymore  European  curiofities,  bro't 
by  the  merchant  Hups  tliatare  perj)etUc;lly  coming  at 
that  fcafon  into  the  port,  lie  took  only  two  of  the 
young  men  and  me  along  with  him,  to  fliew  mc,  as  he 
laid,  that  I  was  entirely  at  my  liberty,  hnce  I  might 
eafily  find  fome  fl»ip  or  other  to  carry  me  into  my 
own  country  ;  and  I,  on  the  other  hand,  to  convince 
him  of  the  linceriiy  of  my  intentions,  generally  kept 
in  his  company.  The  affair  I  am  going  to  ipcak  of, 
foon  gave  him  full  proof  of  my  fmcerity. 

"While  we  were  walking  in  the  public  places  to 
view  the  fevcral  goods  and  curiofitics,  that  were 
brought  from  different  parts  of  the  world,  it  happen- 
ed that  the  bafia  of  Grand  Cairo,  with  all  his  family, 
was  come  to  Alcxamlria  on  the  lame  account,  ns  well 
as  to  buy  fome  young  female  IJaves.  His  wife  and 
daughter  were  then  both  with  him.  The  wife  wns 
one  of  the  Grand  Signior*s  fillers,  feem.ingly  about 
thirty,  and  a  wonderful  fine  woman.  The  daughter 
was  about  fixtcen,  of  fuch  exquifue  beauty,  apd  love- 
ly features,  as  were  fufficicnt  to  charm  the  grcatefl; 
prince  in  t]:e  world"^.  AVhtn  he  perceived  them,  the 
rophar,  who  naturally  abhorred  the  Turks  kept 
of^,  as  in»e  were  treiaing  privately  \\'ith  fome  mer- 
chants. But  I,  being  young  and  inconHderate.  ftood 
gaiiing,  though  at  a  relpe^Tlful  diftance,  at  tl)e  ballads 
beautiful  daughter,  from  no  other  motive  but  mere 
curioiiiy.  She  had  her  eyes  fixed  on  my  compani- 
ons and  me  at  the  fame  time,  and,  as  I  iuppofcd,  on 
the  fame    account,     her   drefs    was  fo  magnificent, 

•  K.  B,  Tl:e  b:i(Ta  of  Giand  Cairo  isone  of  the  greateft 
officers  in  the  Tuikiflj  empire,  and  the  moft  indepePidentof 
anv  fubjcft  in  TiMky.  It  is  cuRGmary  for  the  iulians  to  give 
their  dnuglitcrsin  niarri.tj?,e  to  lutli  jjerfons;  but  they  are  of- 
ten didiked  by  Uieir  huibunds,  on  account  of  their  imperious 
J)ehaYiour« 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  5I 

and  her  perfon  {'o  charming,  that  I  thought  her  th(? 
inoft  beautiful  creature  I  had  ever  leen  in  my  life.  If 
I  could  have  forefeen  the  troubles  which  that  fliort 
interview  was  to  coft  both  the  Pophar  and  myfelf,  I 
iiiould  have  cholen  rather  to  have  looked  on  the  mofl: 
hideous^  mdnfler.  1  obferved  that  the  young  lady, 
with  a  particular  lort  6f  emotion,  \\/hirpered  fome- 
thing  to  an  elderly  woman  that  attended  her,  and  that 
this  iafl:  did  the  fame  to  a  page,  vvho  immediately 
went  to  two  natives  of  tlie  place,  whom  the  Pophar 
utcd  to  hire  to  carry  his  th.ings  ;  this  was  to  enquire 
of  them  who  we  were.  They,  as  appeared  by  the 
event,  told  them,  that  I  was  a  young  flave  lately 
bought  by  the  Pophar.  After  a  while,  the  bafla 
with  his  train  went  away,  and  J,  for  my  part,  tiiought 
no  more  of  the  matter.  The  next  day,  as  the  Po- 
phar and  we  were  walking  in  ons  of  the  public  gar- 
dens, a  little  elderly  man,  like  an  eunuch,  with  a  mod 
beautiful  youth  along  with  him,  having  dogged  us  to 
a  private  part  of  the  w'alks,  came  up  to  us  andad- 
dreflTing  themfelves  to  the  Pophar,  afkcd  liim  what 
he  would  take  for  his  young  (lave,  pointing  at  me,  be- 
Caufe  the  baffa  delired  to  buy  him.  The.  Pophar 
feemed  to  be  more  iurprized  at  this  unexpefled  quef* 
tion,  than  I  ever  obferved  him  at  any  thing  before, 
whieh  confirmed  me  more  and  more  in  the  opinion  of 
the  kindncfs  he  liad  for  me.  But  foon  coming  to 
himfelf,  as  he  was  a  man  of  great  prefenceofmind, 
he  faid  very  calmly,  that  I  was  no  ila\'e  ;  nor  a  perfon 
to  be  fold  for  any  price,  fmce  I  was  as  free  as  he  was. 
Taking  this  for  a  pretext  to  enhance  the  price,  they 
produced  fome  orieiital  pearls  with  other  jev/cls  of 
immenfe  value  ;  and  bid  him  name  what  he  would 
have,  and  it  (houldbe  paid  immediately,  adding,  that 
I  was  to  be  the  companion  of  the  baflVs  fon,  where  I 
might  make  my  fortune  for  ever,  if  I  would  go  along 
with  them.  The  Pophar  perfiftcd  in  his  firftanfwcr, 
»nd  faid  he  had  no  power  over  me  :  they  alledged,  I 


52  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

h:\dbeen  bought  as  a  Cave,  but  a  little  before,  in  the 
Ginncl  Signior's  dominions,  and  they  would  have  me. 
Here  I  intcipolcd,  and  ani'wered  briikly,  that  though 
I  had  been  taken  prifoner  by  the  chance  of  war^ 
I  was  no  Have,  nor  would  I  part  with  my  libertv  but 
at  the  price  of  my  life.  The  bafla's  fon,  for  fo  he 
nowdtclarcdhimlclf  tobe,in{Uad  of  being  angry  at  my 
refolutc  anfwer,  replied  with  a  moft  agreeable  fmile^ 
that  I  ftjould  be  as  free  as  he  was  ;  making  at  the 
fame  time  the  mofi:  i'olcmn  protcftations  by  his  holy 
Alcoran,  that  our  lives  and  deaths  ihould  be  infepara- 
ble.  Though  there  was  fomething  in  his  words  the 
moll  perfuahve  I  ever  felt,  yet  confidering  the  obli- 
gations J  had  to  the  Pophar,  I  was  refolvednot  to 
go  ;  but  anfwercd  with  a  mod  refpeififul  bow,  that 
tbiough  1  was  free  by  nature,  I  had  indifpenfablc  ob« 
ligations  not  to  go  with  him,  and  hoped  he  would 
take  it  for  a  determinate  anfwer.  1  pronounced  this 
xvith  fuch  a  refolute  air,  as  made  him  fee  there  was 
no  hopes.  Whether  his  dcfire  was  more  enflamcd  by 
my  denial,  or  whether  they  took  us  f^r  perfons  of 
greater  note  than  we  appeared  to  be,  I  cannot  tell ; 
but  1  obfervcd  he*  put  on  a  very  languidiing  air,  with 
tears  Healing  down  his  cheeks,  which  moved  me  to  a 
degree  I  cannot  exprcl's.  I  was  fcaice  capable  of 
ipeaking,  but  caft  down  my  eyes,  and  Rood  as  immove- 
able as  a  ftatue.  This  feemcd  to  revive  his  hopes  ; 
and  recovering  himfelf  a  little,  with  a  trembling  voice 
he  replied — '  Suppofe  it  be  the  balTa's  daughter,  you 
*  law  yeilerday,  that  defires  to  have  you  for  her  at- 
'  tendaut,  what  will  you  lay  then^' 1  ftartedat  this, 
and  calling  my  eyes  on  him  more  attentively,  I  faw 
him  iwimiuing  in  tears,  with  a  tendernefs  enough  to 
pierce  the  hardeit  heart.  I  looked  at  the  Pophar,  who 
1  law  was  trembling  for  me  j  and  feared  it  was  the 
daughter  hcrfelf  that  afked  me  the  queflion.  1  was 
foon  put  out  of  doubt ;  for  flie,  finding  flie  had  gone 
too  far  to    go  back,   difccvered    herfelf,  and  fuid,  I 


GAUDENTIO    DI  LUCCA.  S3 

inuft  go  along  with  her,  or  one  of  us  muft  die*. — I 
hope  your  Reverences  willexcufe  this  account  Igivc 
of  myfelf,  whlcli  nothing  fhoiild  have  drawn  from  rae, 
though  it  is  literally  true,  but  your  exprefs  commands 
to  tell  the  whole  hillory  of  my  life. — The  perplexky 
I  was  in  cannot  be  imagined  ;  I  confidered  {he  was 
a  Turk,  and  I  a  Chriftian ;  that  my  death  muft  cer- 
tainly be  the  confequcnce  of  fuch  a  raili  affair,  were 

*  Love'  adventures  are  not  the  defign  of  thefe  memoirs, 
as  will  appear  by  the  reft  of  bislife  :  otherwife,  this  account 
of  the  baffa's  daughter  had  like  to  have  made  me  lay  down 
my  pen,  without  troubhng  myfelf  to  write  any  further  re-< 
marks.  But,  when  I  confidered,  the  man  is  no  fool,  let  him 
be  what  he  will,  nor  could  defjgn  to  embelHQi  his  hiftory  by 
this  extraordinary  adventure,  fo  like  the  former,  and  jufl:  up- 
on the  back  of  it,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  he  wrote  the  mat- 
ter of  fa(fljuftasit  happened.  More  unaccountable  acci- 
dents than  this  have  happened  to  fome  men»  ■ 

The  amorous  temper  of  the  Turkilh  ladies,  efpecially  afe 
Grand  Cniro,  where  the  women  are  the  mod  voluptuous  in 
the  world,  and  the  furprizing  beauty  of  this  young  man,  who^ 
the  fecretary  fays,  has  theuoblelt  prefence  he  everfaw,  even 
'at  tliat  age,  might  eafily  charm  a  wanton  giddy  girl  at  the 
fnft  figlit.  Befides,  flie  was  informed  he  was  a  ilave,  and 
might  think  flie  could  have  pnrchafed  him  for  her  private 
gallant  ;  or  might  be  encouraged  in  it  by  the  luftful  elderly 
Avoman  that  attended  her.  Such  things  have  been  done  be- 
fore now  ;  but  when  flie  came  nearer  to  the  tempting  objefl, 
and  found  him  to  be  fomething  more  noble  than  fhc  expelled, 
her  paflion  might  thereby  grow  to  tke  highefl  pitch. 

Extraordinary  beauty,  in  either  fex,  is  oftentimes  a  great 
misfortune  ;  fince  it  frequently  leads  them  into  very  great 
follies,  and  even difallers.  What  will  notheedlefs  youth  do, 
when  fired  with  flattery  or  charms  ?  '  Tis  no  new  thing  for 
v;omen  to  fall  in  love  at  firft  fight,  as  well  as  men,  and  on 
as  unequal  terms  ;  in  fpite  of  all  reafons  and  confiderations 
to  the  contrary.  I  believe  there  may  be  men  in  the  world, as 
charming  in  the  eyes  of  >Yomen,  as  ever  the  fair  Helen  ap* 


54  CAUDIKTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

I  to  engage  in  it  :  that  whether  (lie  concealed  me  In 
her  father's  court,  or  attempted  to  go  ofTwithme, 
it  ^vas  ten  thoufand  to  one,  we  fliould  both  be  facrific- 
cd  :  neither  could  the  violence  of  fuch  a  fudden  paflion 
ever  be  concealed  from  the  baffa's  fpies.  In  a  word, 
I  was  refolvcd  not  to  go  ;  but  iiow  to  get  ofl'was  the 
difliculty.  I  faw  the  moil  beautiful  creature  in  the 
world  all  in  tears  before  me,  after  a  declaration  of 
love,  that  exceeded  the  moll  romantic  talcs  ;  youth, 
love,  and  beauty,  and  even  an  inclination  on  my  fide, 
pleaded  her  caufe.  But  at  length  the  confidcration  of 
the  endlcfs  miferics  I  wasliUely  to  draw  on  the  young 

peared  to  the  men.  The  almort  incredible  catanrophics,cuaf- 
cd  by  her  beauty  arc  fo  far  fioni  being  fabulous,  that,  be- 
fides  the  account  Homer  gives  of  her,  there  i-i  extant  an  ora- 
tion of  the  famous  Ifocrates  De  laudibus  Iltlenx,  before 
Alexander  the  Great's  time,  whicli  gives  a  more  amazing 
account  of  the  efieds  of  her  beauty,  than  Homer  does.  He 
fays,  ftie  was  ravithed  for  her  beauty,  by  the  great  and  wile 
Thefeus,  when  flie  was  a  but  girl.  She  was  afterwards  courted 
by  all  the  Grecian  princes  ;  and,  after  her  marriage,  was 
cairied  from  Europe  into  Afiaby  the  beautiful  Paris  ;  which 
kindltd  the  firll  war,  that  is  recorded  in  hiftory  to  have  been 
made  in  th.ofe  parts  of  t'.ie  world.  Yet  not\vitl>n.'\nding  that 
lalfe  and  fatal  Rep.  her  beauty  recoiKiled  her  to  her  huf- 
band.  The  fight  of  fome  men  may  have  as  violent  etfeds  on 
women. 

It  is  pofiible  the  young  lady  would  have  been  very  angry 
with  any  one,  who  (liould  have  perfuadcd  Signer  Gandentio 
to  do  ns  he  did  ;  yet  in  efte«fl  it  was  tlie  greateft  kindnefs  : 
for  this  very  lady,  fomc  tini«  after,  became  midrefs  of  the 
whole  Ottoman  empiie.  Whereas  if  flie  had  run  away  with' 
him,  as  the  violence  of  her  paflion  fuggefled,  they  had  both 
of  them  been  inevitably  mil'erable.  Notwitlillanding  all 
thele  reafons,  I  fliould  not  have  believed  this  Oory,  if  1  had 
not  examined  fome  other  fac\s,  which,  he  faid,  happened  to 
jiim,  at  Venice,  as  incredible  as  thi>,and  found  tkem  to  be 
leally  true. 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  ^ ^- 

laJy,  fliould  I  comply  with  what  (he  defired,  prevailed 
above  all  other.     I  was    refolved  to    refufe,  for  her 
fake  more  than  my  own,  and  was  juft  going  to  tell  her 
fo  on  my  knees,  with  all    the    arguments  my  reafon 
could  lugged  to  appeafe  her  ;  when  an  attendant  came 
running  in  hafle  to  the  other  perfon,  who  wasalfo  a  wo- 
man, and  told    her  tlie    bafia  was    coming  that  way. 
She  was  rouied  out  of  her  lethargy  at  this.  The  other 
woman  immediately  fnatched  her  away,  as  the  Popbar 
did  me  ;  and  flie  had  only  time  to  call  out  with  a  threat 
- — 'Think  better  on  it,  or  die.'  I  was  no  fooneroutof 
her  light  but  I  found  a  thouland  reafons  for  what  I  did, 
more  than  I  could  think  of  before,  while  the  enchant- 
ing obje^l  was  before  my  eyes.  I  law  the  madnefs  of 
that  padion  which  forced  the  moft  charming  perfon  of 
the  Ottoman    empire,  capable  by  her  beauty  to  con- 
quer the  Grand  Signior  himfelf,  to  make  a  dtclara'tion 
of  love,  fo  contrary  to  the  nature  andmodefty  of  her 
fex,  as  well  as  her  quality  and  dignity,  and  ready  to 
facrifice   her   reputation,    the  duty  flie  owed  her  pa- 
rents, her   liberty,    perhaps  her  life,  for  an  unknown 
perfon,  who  had  been  a  Have  but  fome  time  before.  I 
law,  on  the  other  hand,  that  liad  I  complied  with  the 
fair  charmer's  propofal,  I  muft  have  run  the  rifque  of 
lofmgmy  religion,  orlife,  orratherboth,  witliadreadful 
chain  of  hidden  misfortunes,  likely  to  accompany  fuch 
arafli  adventure.     Wi:iile  1  was  taken  up  with  thefe 
thoughts,  the  wife  Pophar,  after  rcfle£ling  a  little  up- 
on what  had  happened,  told  me,   this  unfortunate  af- 
fair would  not  end  fo,  but  that  it  might   cod  us  both 
our  lives,  and   fomething  elfe  that  was  more  dear  to 
him.     He  feared  fo  violent  a  paflion   would  draw  on 
other  extremes  ;  e-fpecially  confidering  the  wicked- 
nefs  of  the  people,  and  the  brutal  tvranny  of  their  go- 
vernment: however  he  was  refolved  not  to  give  me  up 
but  with  his  life*,  if  I  would  but  ftand  to  it  myfelf:  add- 
ing, tluit  wc  muft  make  off  as   fafl;    as  we  could  ;  antl, 
lijiving  fo  many  fpies  upon  us  ufe  policy  as  well  as  ex- 


56  GAUDEN^TIO    DI    LUCCA. 

pedition.  Accordingly  lie  went  do\vii  dire«niy  to  the 
port,  and  hired  a  fliip  in  tlic  mod  public  manner  to 
go  for  Cyprus,  p:iid  the  whole  freight  on  the  fpot,  and 
told  them  they  mull  necedarily  fail  that  evening.  We 
fh()ulda(f\ually  have  done  fo,  liad  not  our  companions 
and  effc^ls  obliged  us  to  return  to  Grand  Cairo,  but 
inftcad  of  embarking  for  Cyprus,  he  called  afide  the 
mailer  of  the  vcfiel,  who  was  of  his  acquaintance,  and 
for  a  good  round  fum,  privately  agreed  with  him  to 
fail  out  of  the  port,  as  if  we  were  really  on  bo.ud, 
while  the  Pophar  hired  a  boat  for  us  at  the  other  end 
of  the  town,  in  which  we  went  that  night  dirctfllyfor 
Grand  Cairo.  As  foonas  wcwere  arrived  there,  we 
enquired  how  long  it  would  be  before  the  balTa  re- 
turned to  that  city.  'I'hey  told  us  it  would  be  about 
a  fortnight  at  foonefl:  ;  this  gave  the  Pophar  time  to 
pay  off  his  houie,  pack  up  his  effe(ils,and  get  all  things 
ready  for  his  great  voyage  ;  but  he  iVill  had  greatet 
apprehenfions  in  his  looks  than  ever  I  remarked  in 
him.  However,  he  told  us,  he  hoj^ed  the  afVair  would 
end  well.  In  five  days  time  all  things  were  in  readi- 
nefs  for  our  departure.  Wc  fet  out  a  little  before  fun- 
fet,  as  is  cuftomary  in  thole  countries,  and  marched 
but  a  flow  pace  wb.illl  we  were  near  the  town,  to 
avoid  any  lufpicion  of  flight.  After  we  had  travelled 
thus  about  a  league  up  by  the  fide  of  the  river  Nile, 
the  Pophar  leading  the  van,  and  the  rell  following  in 
a  pretty  long  firing  after  him,  we  met  five  or  fix  men 
coming  down  the  river  fide  on  horfeback,  whofe  fiile 
turbans  and  habits  ihewed  they  were  pages,  or  atten- 
dants of  fume  great  perfon.  The  Pophar  turned  off 
from  the  river,  as  if  it  were  to  give  them  way  ;  and 
they  pafled  on  very  civilly  without  fecming  to  take 
any  furllicr  notice  of  us.  1  was  the  hindmoll  but 
one  of  our  train,  having  (laid  to  give  our  dromedaries 
fomc  water.  Soon  after  thefc,  came  two  ladies  rid- 
ing on  little  Arabian  jennets  with  prodigious  rich 
furniture,  by   which  I  gueffcd   them  to  be  pcrfons  of 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  57 

quality,  and  the  others  gone  before  to  be  then'  atten- 
dants. They  were  not  quite  over  againil  where  I 
was,  when  the  jennet  of  the  younger  of  the  two  la- 
dies began  to  Inort  and  ftart  at  our  dromedaries,  and 
became  fo  unruly,  that  I  apprehended  (he  could  fcarce 
fit  him.  At  that  inftant,  one  of  the  led  dromedaries 
coming  pretty  near,  that,  and  the  ruftling  of  it's  load- 
ing, fo' frighted  the  jennet,  that  he  gave  a  bound  all 
cn  a  fudden,  and  being  en  the  infide  of  us  towards  the 
river,  he  ran  full  fpeed  towards  the  edge  of  the  bank, 
where  not  being  able  to  flop  his  eareei',  he  flew  di- 
reftly  off  the  precipice  into  the  river,  with  the  lady 
ilill  fitting  him,  but  the  violence  of  the  leap  threw 
her  off  two  or  three  yards  into  the  water.  It  hap- 
pened very  luckily  that  there  was  a  little  ifland  juft 
by  where  (lie  fell,^  and  her  cloaths  keeping  her  up  for 
fome  minutes,  the  ftream  carried  her  againft  fome 
ftakes  that  ftoodjuft  above  tha  water, which  catched 
hold  of  her  cloaths,  and  held  her  there.  The  ihrieks 
of  the  other  lady  brought  the  nigheft  attendants  up 
to  us  ;  but  thofe  fearful  wretches  durft  not  venture  in- 
to the  riv'er  to  her  ailiftance.  I  jumped  off  my  drome- 
dary with  indignation,  and  throwing  off  my  loofe  gar- 
ment and  fandais,  fwam  to  her,  and  with  much  diffi- 
culty getting  hold  of  her  hand,  and  loofing  her  gar* 
ments  from  the  llakes,  I  made  a  fliift  to  draw  her 
arofs  the  ftream,  till  I  brought  her  to  land.  She  was 
quite  fenfelels  for  fome  time  ;  held  down  her  head, 
which  I  had  not  yet  looked  at,  to  make  her  difgorge 
the  water  (lie  had  fwallowed  ;  but  1  was  foon  itruck 
"with  a  double  furprize,  when  I  looked  at  her  face,  to 
find  it  was  the  baila's  daughter,  and  to  fee  her  in  that 
place,  whom  I  thought  I  had  left  at  Alexandria.  Af' 
ter  fome  time,  flie  came  to  herfelf,  and  looking  fix- 
ed on  me  a  good  while,  her  fenfes  not  being  entire  re- 
covered, at  laft  flie  cried  out — *  O  Mahomet,  muff  I 
'  owe  my  life  to  this  man  1'  and  fainted  away.  The 
Other  lady,  who  was  her  confidant,  with  a  great  deal 


j%  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

of  pains  brought  her  to  herlelf  again  ;  we  raifed  her 
up,  and  endeavoured  to  comfort  her  as  well  as  we 
could.     *  No/  lays  flie,   *  throw  me  into  the  river 

*  once  more  j  let  mc  net  be  obliged   to  a  barbarian 

*  for  whom  I  have  done  too  much  uh-eady.'  I  told  licr 
in  the  moft  refpcdful  terms  I  could  think  of, that  Pro- 
vidence liad  ordered  it  fo,  that  I  mlglit  make  fome 
rccompenfc  for  the  undeferved  obligations  Oie  had 
laid  on  me  ;  that  I  had  too  great  value  tor  her  merit 
ever  to  make  her  milerable,  by  loving  a  Have,  fucii 
as  I  was,  a  ftranger,  a  Chriftian,  and  one  who  had 
indifpenfable  obligations  toa6l  as  I  did.  She  (lartled 
a  little  at  what  1  faid  ;  but  after  a  Ihort  recoUedlion 
anfwered — '  Whether  you  are  a  fiave,  infidel,  or 
'  what  you  pleal'c,  you  are  one  of  the  moft  generous 

*  men  in  the  worKl.     I  fuppofe  your  obligations  are 

*  on  account  of  fome  more  happy  woman  than  myfelf ; 
'  but  fince  I  owe  my  life  to  you,  I  am  refolved  not  to 

*  make  you  unhappy,  iiuy  more  than  you  do  me.  I  not 
'  cnly  pardon  you,  but  am  convinced  my  preienfions 
'  are  both  unjuft  and  againft  my  own  honour.'  She 
faid  this  with  an  air  becoming  her  quality:  ilie  was 
nvjch  mor«  at  eafe  when  I  aflured  her  I  was  engaged 
to  no  woman  in  the  woild  ;  but  that  her  memory 
fliould  be  ever  dear  to  me,  and  imprinted  rnmy  heart 
till  my  laft  bi-eaih.  Here  ten  or  a  dozen  armed 
Turks  came  upon  us  full  Ipeed  from  the  town  j  and 
ieeing  the  Popharand  his  companions, th.cy  cried  out 
— ^  Slop,  villains  !  we  arrtft  you  in  the  name  of  th.c 
balVa.'  At  this  we  ftarted  up  to  fee  what  was  the 
matter,  wh.en  the  lady,  who  knew  them,  bid  m«*  not 
be  afraid  ;  that  flie  had  ordered  theftt  men  to  purfuc 
me,  when  flie  left  Alexandria.  That  hearing  we 
w^ere  fled  off  by  lea,  flie  pretended  licknels,  and  alk- 
ed  leave  of  her  father  to  return  to  Cairo,  there  to 
bemoan  her  misfortune  with  her  confidant;  and  was 
in  thole  melancholy  fentiments,  when  the  late  acci- 
dent happened  to  lier.     That  flie  fuppofcd  thefe  men 


GAUDE'NTIO    DI    LUCCA.  Cg 

had  difcovered  the  trickwe  had  played  them  in  not  go- 
ing by  lea,  and  on  better  information  had  purfued  us 
this  way.  So  flie  diliniffed  them  immediately.  I 
was  all  this  while  in  one  of  the  greateft  agonies  that 
can  be  exprefled,  both  for  fear  of  my  own  refolutions 
and  her's  ;  fo  I  begged  her  to  retire,  left  her  wet 
cloaths  fliould  endanger  her  health.  I  fliould  not 
-have  been  able  to  pronomice  thefe  words,  if  the  Po- 
phar  had  not  call  a  look  at  me,  which  pierced  me 
•through,  and  made  me  fee  the  danger  I  was  in  by  my 
delay.  Her  refolutions  now  feemed  to  be  itron^-er 
than  mine.  She  pulled  aff  this  jewel  your  Reve- 
rences fee  on  my  finger,  and  juftfaid,  with  tears 
-ti  ickling  down  her  beautiful  cheeks — 'Take  this 
*  and  adieu  I'  She  then  pulled  her  companion  away, 
and  never  looked  at  me  more.  I  flood  amazed,  almoil 
without  life  or  motion  in  me,  and  cannot  tell  how 
4ong  I  might  have  continued  fo,  if  the  Pophar  had  not 
come  and  congratulated  me  for  my  deliverance.  I 
•told  him,  1  did  not  know  what  he  meant  by  deliver- 
ance, for  I  did  not  know  whether  I  was  alive  or 
-dead,  and  that  I  was  afraid  he  would  repent  his  buy- 
ing of  me,  if  I  procured  liim  any  more  of  thw^fe  adv©-n- 
tures  ?  *  If  we  meet  with  no  worfe  than  thefe,'  fays 
he,  *  we  are  well  enough  ;  no  vi£lory  can  be  gained 
/*  without  fomelofs.'  So  he  awakened  ma  out  of  my 
lethargy,  and  commanded  us  to  make  the  bell  of  our 
way. 

Though  the  Popliarwas  uneafy  to  be  out  of  the 
.reach  of  the  fair  lady  and  herfaithlefs  Turks,  yet  he 
was  not  in  any  great  hafle  in  the  main,  the  prefent 
time  for  his  great  voyage  not  being  yet  come.  There 
appeared  a  gaiety  in  his  countenance,  that  feemed  to 
promife  us  a  profpcrous  journey.  For  my  own  part, 
though  I'was  glad  I  hadefcaped  my  dangerous  enchan- 
trefs,  there  was  a  heavinefs  lay  on  my  fpirits,  which 
I  could  give  no  account  of;  but  the  thoughts  of  fuch 
•un  unknown  voyage,  and  variety  of  places,  diffipated  it 


6o  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

by  de^ees.     A\'e  were  eleven  in  number,  five  elder- 
ly men,  and  five  young  ones,  myfclt"  being  a    i'u|>er- 
numerary  pcifon.     AVe  were  all  mounted  upon    dro- 
medaiies,  which  were  very  fine  for  that  fort  of  crea- 
ture ;  they  are  fomething  like  camels,  but   lefs,  and 
jnuch  fwitter;  they  live  a  great  while  witliout  water, 
as  the  camels  do,  vhich  was  the  reafon  tliey  made 
life  of  them,  for  the  barren  fands   they  were  to  pais 
over ;  though  they  have  the  fineil  horfes  that  can  be 
feen  in  their  own  country.     They  had  five  fpare  ones 
to  carry  provifions,  or  to  change,  in  cafe  any  one    of 
their  own  fliould  tire  by  thG  way.     It  was  upon   one 
of  thefefive  that  I  rode  :  we  went  up  the  Nile,  leav- 
ing it  on  our  left-hand  all  the  way,  iteering  our  courfe 
dire(^ly  for  the  Upper  Kgypt.     I  prefume  your  Rev- 
erences know,  that  the  pivcr  Nile  divides  Kgypt  into 
two  parts  lengthways,  defcending  from  Ab)  Ihnia  with 
fuch  an  immenfe  courfe,  that  the  Ethiopians   faid  it 
had  no  licad  ;  and  running  through  the  Iliiher  Ethi- 
opia, pours  doyvn  U])on  Egypt,   as  llie   Rliine    does 
through  the  Spanifli  Netherlands,  making  it  one  of  the 
jicheft  countries  in  the  univcifc,     AVc  vifitetl  all  the 
towns  on  tliat  famous  river  upwttrds,  under  pretence 
of  merchajidiaing ;  but  the  true  reaion  of  our  delay 
was,  bccaufcTjittPophai's  critical  time  for  his   jrreat 
voyi;ge  was  not  yet  come.     Helooktd  at  his  cpheme** 
ris  and  notes  almoll  every  hour,  the  red  of  them  at- 
tending his  nod  in  tlie  mofl  minute  circuraftances. — r 
As  we  approached  the  upper  parts  of  Egypt,  as  nigh 
as  I  could  gucfs,  o\er  againft  tiie  defirts  of  13arca, 
they  began  to  bay  proviiions  proper  for  their  puipote 
but  particidarly  rice,  dried  fruits,  and  a  fort  of  dried 
palle  that  icrvcd  us  for  breiid.     They  bought    their 
provifions  at  different  places,  to  avoid  fufpicion;  and 
lobferved  they  laid  up  a  confiderable  quantity,  both 
for  their  dromedaries   and  their  ielves  :   by    which  I 
found  we  had  a  long  journey   to  make.     When  v/e 
came  over  agaioil  the  middle  coall  of  the  vali  deiai'I 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA,  6l 

of  Barca,  we  met  with  a  delicate  clear  rivulet,  break- 
ing out  of  a  riling  part  of  the  funds,   and  making  to- 
wards the  Nile.     Here  we  alighted,  drank  ourfelves, 
and  gave  our  dromedaries  to  drink  as    much   as  they 
would  :  then  we  filled  all  our  velfels,  made    on   pur- 
pole  for  carriage,  and  took  in  a  much  greater  propor- 
tion of  water  than  we  had  done  proviiions.     I  forgot 
to  tell  your  Reverences,  that  at  leveral  places  as  we 
paffed,  they  difmounted  and  kilTed  the  ground  with  a 
very  fuperllitious  devotion,  and  fcraped  foma  of  the 
dull,  which  they  put  mto go Idcfi  urnsy  which  they  had 
brought  with  them  on  purpole,  letting  ms  do  what  I 
pleafed  all  the  while.     This  fort  of  devotion  I  then 
only  gueffed,  but  found  to  be   true  afterwards,    was 
the  chief  occafioii  of  their  coming  into   thefe  parts  ; 
though  carried  on  under  the  pretence  of  m.erchandiz- 
ing.     They  did  the  fame  in  this  place  ;  and  when  all 
were  ready,  the  Pophar  looking  on  his  papers  and  nee- 
dle, cried — '  Gaulo  Bcnim^  which  1  was    informed 
was    as  much    as    to  fay — '  Now,  children,  for  our 
lives  ;'  and  immediately,  as  he  had  fleered  fouth    all 
al0ng  before,  he  turned  fliort  on    his  right  hand  due 
well,  crofs  the  vaft  defart  of  Barca,  as  fait  as   his  dro- 
medary could  well  go.     We   had  nothing  but    lands 
and  llcy  before  us,  and  in  a  few  hours  were  almod  out 
of  danger  of  any  one's  attempting  to  follow  us. 

Being  thus  embarked,  if  I  may  fay  fo,  on  this  vaft 
ocean  of  fand,  athouland  perplexing  thoughts  came 
into  my  mind,  which  1  did  not  reded  on  before.  Be- 
hold me  in  the  midll  of  the  inhofpitable  defarts  of  Af- 
rica, where  whole  armies^'  had  often  perillied.     The 

•  Ancient  hifloiies  give  us  feveral  inftances  of  a  great 
number  of  perfons,  and  even  whole  armies,  who  have  been 
loll  in  the  funds  of  Africa.  Herodotus  in  Thalia,  fays  that 
Cambyfes  the  ion  of  Cyrus  the  Great,  in  his  expedition  a- 
gainll  the  Kdiiouians,  was  brought  to  iucii  llraits    in   tholW 


Cl  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

fiirllicrwe  advanced,  the  more  our  thitMj^er  cncreftfed. 
I  was  with  iiicn,  who  were  not  only  flrangcrs  to  my- 
I'clf,  but  to  all  the  world  bcTide :  ten  againil  one  ;  but 
this  was  not  all  ;  I  was  perfunded  now  they  Avere 
Heathens  and  Idolators  ;  tor  belide  their  i'uperftitions 
kifling  the  earth  in  fcveral  places,  1  obferved  they 
looked  up  towards  the  Sun,  and  feemcd  to  addrel's 
llieir  oraifons  to  tliat  planet,  glorious  indeed,  but  a 
planet  and  a  creature  ncverthelefs.  'i'hen  I  refleifted 
on  what  the  Pophar  faid  when  he  bought  mc,  that  I 
\vasnot  likely  to  return.     'It  is  poflible,'  thought  I, 

*  I  am  deftincd  for  a  human  facrifice,  to  feme   Heathen 

*  god  in  the  midft  of  this  vail  dcfart.'  But  not  feeing 
any  arms  they  had,  either  ofitnfive  or  defenfive,  ex- 
cept their  fliort  goads  to  p.rick  on  their  dromedaries, 
I  was  a  lilllc  eafy  :  I  had  pri\alel)-  juovided  myfelf 
with  two  pocket-piftols,  and  was  reiolved  to  defend 
myfelf  till  thelall  gafp.  But  when  I  confidered  that 
unparalleled  judice  and  humanity  I  had  experienced 
in  their  treatment  of  mc,  I  was  a  little  comforted. — 
As  for  the  difficulty  of  pafflrig  the  defarts,  I  reflecled 
that  their  own  lives  were  as  much  in  danger  as  mine  ; 
that  they  mull  have  fome  unknown  ways  of  palling 
them  over,  otherwifc  they  would  never  expofc  them- 
fclves  to  liicii  evident,  danger. 

I  fliould  have  told  your  Reverences,    that   we    fct 
out  a  little  before  fun-fet,  to  avoid    the  heats,   June 

vaft  def:irt?,  that  tliey  were  fdrretl  to  eat  evrr)  tenth  man  be- 
fore tlicy  could  get  back  again,  'llie  otiici  army,  w!  ich  lia 
fent  to  deftroy  the  temple  of  Jupiter  Hammon,  wasentirrly 
overwhelmed  and  loH  in  the  fands:  Hi:RODoT,  'J'h\l»/.  Tiie 
Idolaters  Imputed  it  as  a  punilhment  for  hii  impiety  ngalnfl 
Jupiter,but  it  was  for  want  of  krowing  tlie danger.  I  iiippofc 
YCry  few  arc  ignorant  of  the  contrivance  of  Marias  the  Uo- 
man  general,  to  get  over  the  fnnds  to  Capfa,  to  fcize  Jugwr- 
tba's  tieafure,  wl.ich  he  thought  fecure.     Sallust.  de  biL^ 

1.0   JuGURTMi:*. 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  6$ 

the  pth,  1688  ;  the  moon  was  about  the  firft  quarter, 
and  carried  on  the  light  till  nigh    dawn   of  day  ;  the 
glittering  of  the    fands,  or  rather   pebbly  gravel,  in 
which  there   were   abundance    of  fliining  ftones  like 
jewels  or  cryftal,  encreafed  the  light,    that '^v^   could 
fee  to  iteer  our  courfe  by  the  needle  very  welt.     We 
went  on  at  a  vafi:  rate,   the    dromedaries  being  vely 
fwift  creatures  ;  their  pace  is  more  running  than  gal- 
loping, much  like  that  of  a  mule  ;  that  I   verily    be- 
lieve from  fix  o'clock  in  the  evening  till  about  ten  the 
next  day,  we  ran  almoft  an  hundred  and  twenty  Itali- 
an miles:  we  had  neither fhop  nor  let,  but  fteered  our 
courfe  in  a  dired  line,  like   a   fliip  under    fail.     The 
heats  were- not  nigh  fo  unfufferable  as  I  expelled  ;  for 
though  we  faw  nothing  we  could  call  a  mountain  in 
thofe  immenfe  Bares,  yet  the  fands,    or   at  leaft  the 
way  we  fteered,  was  very  high  ground :  that  as  foon 
as  we  were  out  of  the  breath  of  the  habitable  coun- 
tries, we  had  a  perpetual  breeze  blowing  full  in  our 
faces  ;  yet  fo  uniform,  that  it  fcarce  raifed  any  dull : 
partly  becaufe,  where  we  palTed,  the  fands    were   not 
of  that  fmall  dufty  kind,  as  in  fome    parts  of  Africa, 
which  fly  in  clouds  with  the  wind,   overwhelming  all 
before  it,  but  of  a  more  gravelly    kind  ;  and   partly 
from   an  imperceptible  dew,    which,  though  not  fo 
thick  as  fog,  moiitened  the  furface  of  the  ground  pret- 
ty much.     A  little  arter  nine  next  morning,  we  came 
to  fome  clumps  of  Ihrubby  trees,  with  a  little  mofson 
the  ground  inllead  of  grafs ;  here  the  wind  fell,  and 
the  heats  became  very  violent.     The  Pophar  ordered 
us  to  alight  and  pitcii  our  tents,  to  Oiclter  both   our- 
felves  and  tlie  dromedaries   from  the  heats.     Their 
tents  were  made  of  the  finell  fort  of  oiled   cloth  I   e- 
ver  faw,  prodigious  light  and  portable,  yet  capable   of 
keeping  out  both  rahi  and  fun.     Here  we    refrefhed 
ourfclves  and  beafts  till  a  little  after  fix  ;  when  we  fet 
out  again,  (leering  iVill  direiflly  weft  as  nigh  as  I  could 
gucfs.     Wq  wctit  on  thus  for  three  days   and  nights 


64  CAVDEXTIO    Dr    LUCCA. 

without  any  confulerable  accident,  only  I  obfervcd 
the  i;rounil  rcemcd  to  rife  infcnfjbly  higher,  and  the 
breezes  not  only  Hrongcr,  but  the  air  itiVlf  much  cool- 
er. About  ten  the  third  day,  wc  faw  fome  more 
I  lumps  nftrccp  on  our  right- hand,which  looked  green- 
er nnd  thicker  th.an  tlic  iormer,  as  if  ihey  were  the 
beginning  of  Ibme  habitable  vale,  os  in  effed  they  were. 
The  I'ophar  ordered  us  to  turn  that  way,  which  was 
the  only  turning  out  of  our  way  we  had  yet  made. — 
J)y  the  chearfulnefs  of  their  countenances,  I  thought 
this  might  be  the  beginning  of  their  country;  but  I 
wr.s  very  much  inillaken  ;  we  had  a  far  longer  and 
more  dangcrrr.s  way  to  go,  than  what  we  had  paficd 
liiiherto.  However,  this  was  a  very  remarkable  fla- 
tion  for  our  voyage,  as  your  Reverences  will  find  by 
the  iequel.  As  wc  advanced,  we  fuund  it  to  open  and 
defcend  gradually  ;  till  at  length  we  law  a  moll  beau- 
tiful vale,  full  of  palms,  dates,  oranges,  and  other  fruit* 
trees,  entirely  unknown  in  tl\cfe  ])aris,  with  iiich  a 
refreliiing  fmcll  from  the  odoriferous  flnubs,  as  filled 
the  whole  air  with  perfumes  ;^  we  rode  into  the 
thickeflof  it  as  fall  as  we  could  to  enjoy  the  invitinjr 
Hiade.  AVc  eafed  our  dromedaries,  and  took  the  firlk 
care  of  them  ;  for  on  them  all  our  lafeties  depended. 
After  we  had  rcfrcdied  ourfelves,  the  Pophar  ordered 
every  one  to  go  to  lleep  as  foon  as  he  could,  lincc  we 
were  like  to  have  but  little  the  three  following  days. 
I  fliould  have  told  your  Reverences,  that  as  loon  as 
they  alighted,  tliey  fell  down  flat  on  their  faces  and 
killed  the  erirlh,  with  a  great  deal  of  Iceming  joy  and 
ardour,  which  1  took  to  be  a  congratulation  for  their 
Iiappy  arrival  at  lb  hofpitable  a  place,  but  it  was  on  a 

•  The  prodigious  iertility  of  Africa,  in  the  vales  between 
the  dtiarts  and  tlie  fkirts  of  it,  for  a  great  breadth  towards 
the  two  leas,  is  recorded  by  the  bell  hidoriar.s  ;  though  the 
ritlge  of  it,  over  which  our  author  was  conducUd,  and  oth^ 
particular  trads,  are  all  covered  withfands- 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  6^ 

quite  different  account.  I  was  the  firft  who  awoke 
after  our  refrefliment  j  my  thoughts  and  fears,  though 
much  cahner  than  they  had  been,  would  not  fufFer  me 
to  be  fo  fedatc  as  the  red.  Finding  the  hour  for  de- 
parting was  not  yet  come,  I  got  up,  and  walked  in 
that  delicious  grove,  which  was  fo  much  the  more  de- 
lightful, as  the  defarts  we  had  puffed  were  dreadful 
and  horrid  :  I  pafled  on,  delcending  towards  the  cen- 
tre of  the  vale,  not  doubting  but  by  the  greennefs 
and  fragancy  of  the  place,  I  lliould  find  a  fpring  of  wa- 
ter. I  had  not  gone  far,  but  I  faw  a  mod  delicate 
rill,  bubbling  out  from  under  a  rock,  forming  a  little 
natural  bafon,  from  whence  it  ran  gliding  down  the 
centre  of  the  vale,  encreafing  as  it  went,  till  in  all 
appearance  it  might  form  a  confiderable  rivulet,  un- 
leis  it  were  fwallowed  up  again  in  the  fands.  At 
that  place  the  vale  ran  upon  a  pretty  deep  defcent, 
lo  that  I  could  fee  over  the  trees  and  flirubs  below  me, 
almoft  as  far  as  my  eyes  could  reach  ;  encreafmg  or 
decreafing  in  breadth  as  the  hills  of  fands,  for  now 
they  appeared  to  be  hills,  would  give  it  leave.  Here 
I  had  the  moil  delightful  profpedl  that  the  mod  live- 
ly imagination  can  form  to  itfelf;  the  fun-burnt  hills 
of  fandon  each  fide,  made  the  greens  look  ftill  more 
charming  ;  but  the  finging  of  innumerable  unknown 
birds,  with  the  different  fruits  and  perfumes  exhaling 
from  the  aromatic  flirubs,  rendered  the  place  delicious 
beyond  expreffion.  After  I  had  drank  my  fill,  and 
delighted  my fclf  with  thofe  native  rarities,  I  faw  a 
large  lion  come  out  of  the  grove,  about  two  hundred 
paces  below  me,  going  very  quietly  to  the  fpring  to 
lap :  when  lie  had  drank,  he  v/hi{ked  his  tail  two  or 
three  times,  and  began  to  tumble  on  the  green  grafs. 
I  took  the  oportunity  to  flip  away  back  to  my  compa- 
nions, very  glad  I  had  efcaped  1" o  j  they  were  all  a- 
wake  v/hcn  I  came  up,  and  had  been  in  great  concern 
for  my  abfencc.     The  Pophar  feemcd  more  difulcafed 

V    2, 


^^  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA 

that  I  liad  left  him,  than  ever  I  faw  liim  ;  be  milJIy 
chidmc  for  cxpofingmyfelf  to  be  devoured  by  wiltl 
beafts  ;  but  when  I  told  them  of  the  water  and  the 
lion,they  wero  in  a  greater  furprize,  looking  at  ons  an- 
other with  a  fort  of  fear  in  th.eir  looks,  wliich  I  inter- 
preted to  be  for  the  danger!  hadefcaped;  but  it  was 
oji  another  account.  After  fomc  words  in  their  own 
language,  tlie  J*ophar  fpoke  aloud  in    Lingua  Franca  ; 

*  I  thir.k,'  lays  lie,  *  we  ma)  let  this  young  man  fee  all 
*"  our  ceremonies,  efpecially  fince  he  will  foon  be  out 
'of  danger  of  difcoveringtlicm,  if  he  (liould  have  a 

*  mind  to  do  it.'  At  this  they  pulled  out  their  ftores, 
iomeof  their  choicefl:  fruits,  a  cruife  of  rich  wine» 
fome  bread,  a  burning  glafs,  a  thurible,"'^'  perfumes, 
and  other  inllruments  commonly  ufcd  in  the  1  leather 
jUcrifices.  I  looked  aghaft  at  this  llrange  fight, 
w:hich  was  fuch  as  I  had  never  obferved  in  them  be- 
fore, and  began  to  apprehend  that  I  was  now  really 
dcfigned  for  a  human  facrifice f  to  fome  infernal  god  or 
other ;  but  when  I  compared  the  Pophar's  late  words 
with  what  1  faw,  I  fcarce  doubted  of  it,  and  was  con- 
lri\ing  with  nnlclf  tofell  mvlife  as  dear  as  1  could, 
'i'he  Poj)harorcUrcd  us  to  bring  the  dromedaries,  and 
every  thing  along  ^\'ith  us,  for  fear,  as  he  faki,  they 
Ihould  be  devoured  by  ^ild  beafls.  AVe  dcfcendcd 
towards  the' centre  of  the  vale,  where  I  faw  the  foun* 

•  An  innrument  to  hold  incenfe. 
t  Our  autbor'g  fears  uere  not  vain,  conficlering  tliC  pre- 
paiativts  lie  law,  and  other  circuniAunces.  Befidcs,  it  is  well 
known,  the  ar.cient  Africans,  pnrlkularly  tlie  Gcuiliins  and 
Lybians,  and  even  the  Carthaginians,  made  ufc  of  human  fa- 
crificcs  to  appeafe  their  deities,  liochart,  in  the  fecond  part 
cf  his  Grographia  Sacra,  proves  beyond  nuellion,  that  the  Car- 
thaginians were  jxirt  of  the  people  of  Canaan  driven  out  by 
]ofhua,  >vho  ufed  to  fucrince  their  children  to  Moloch,  &c, 
Evti^  in  Hannibal's  li.r.e,  w  hen  they  were  grown  more  polite, 
they  feat  j^rivately  children  IQ  Tyre,  for  a  faciifice  to  Ilcr" 
^ules* 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA  67 

tain.  They  went  on  a  great  way  lower  into  tiie 
vale,  till  it  began  to  be  very  fteep  ;  but  we  found  a 
I  narrow  way  made  by  art,  and  not  feeming  to  have 
'  been  very  long  unfrequented,  which  was  more  fur- 
prizing,  becaufe  I  took  the  place  to  be  uninhabited, 
and  even  inacceflible  to  all  but  thefe  people.  We 
were  forced  to  defcend  one  by  one,  leading  our  dro- 
medaries in  our  hands  :  I  took  particular  care  to  be 
the  hindmoft,  keeping  at  a  little  diftance  from  the  reft, 
for  fear  of  a  furprize.  They  marched  down  in  a 
mournful  kind  of  proceffion,  obferving  a  mod  profound 
filence  all  the  while.  At  length  we  came  into  the 
fineft  natural  amphitheatre  that  it  is  poflible  to  de- 
fcribe.  There  was  nothing  but  odiferous  greens  and 
Iky  tobe  fcen  ;  except  downwards  riglu.  before  us, 
where  we  had  a  moO  delicious  proipe^l  over  that  glo- 
rious vale,  winding  a  little  to  the  right,  till  it  was  in- 
tercepted by  the  collateral  hills.  At  the  upper  part 
of  theampliitheatre,  where  the  break  of  the  hill  made 
that  agreeable  efplanade,  there  flood  an  ancient  py- 
ramid" juft  after  the  manner  of  thofe  in  Egypt,  but 
nothinp-  near  fo  bi?  as  the  lead  of  them.  In  the  front 
of  it  that  faced  the  vale,  tlie  ileps  were  cut  out  in 
the  form  of  an  altar,  on  which  was  ere6led  aftntiie  of 
a  venerable  old  man,  done  to  the  life,  of  the  fmeft  po- 
lIHied  marble,  or  rather  fome  unknown  done  of  infi- 
nite more  value.  Here,  I  had  not  the  lead  doubt,  but 
that  I  was  to  be  facrificed  to  this  idol.  The  Pophar 
feeinfrme  at  a  didance,  called  to  me  to  come  and  fee 
their  ceremonies.  Then  I  thought  it  was  time  to 
i'pcak  or  never.     '  Father,'  faid  I,  'fmce  you  give  me 

*  leave  to  call  you  fo,  1  am  willing  to  perform  all  your 

*  commands,  where  the  honour  of  the  fupreme    God 

*  is  not  called  in  quedion  ;  but  I  am  ready   to   die  a 

*  thoufa^  deaths  rather  than  give  his  honour  to  ano- 

*  ther.    I  am  a  Chridian,  and  believe  in  one  only  God, 

*  the  fupreme  Being  of  all  beings,  and  Lord  of  the  u- 

*  Jiiverie  ;  for  which  reafoa  x  ctinnot  joia  with  you 


6S  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

'  in  vour  idolatrous  worfliip.     If  you  are  rcfolved  to 
'put  me  to  dcaili   on  that  account,   I  here  offer   my 
'  life  freely.     If  I  am  to  be  made  a  part  of  your  in- 
*ftinal  facrificcs,  TU defend  myfelf  to  tlic  laftdropof 
'  mv  blood,  before  I  will  fubmitto  it.*     lie  anfwered 
me  with  a  fmile,  rather  than  with   any    indignation, 
and  told  nie,  when  1  came  to  be  better  acquainted  with 
them,  1  {hould  fmd  they  were  TiOt  fo  inhuman  as    to 
put  people  to  death,  bccauie  they  were  of  a  different 
opinion  from  tiieirown.     Tliat  this  was  only  a  reli- 
gious ceremonv  they  performed  to  their  dcceafed  an- 
cellors,^'  and  if  1  had  not  a  mind  to  affill  at  it,  1  might 
fit  down  at  what  dillance  I  pleafed. 
[S\'creior\.     The  inquilitors  were  extremely  ])leaied 
with  the  firil  part  of  his  difcourfe,  wherein  he  Uiew- 
cd  fuch  courage  in  defence  of  his  religion,  and  re- 
iblution  to  die  rather  than  join  in  their  idolatrous 
worlbip  ;    but  all  had  liked  to   have  been  dallied 
again  by  the  lecond    part,    which   made  one  of  the 
incpiifitors  interrupt  his  narration,  and  a(k  him  the 
following  quelVion, 
Jnauisitor.     1  hope    you  do  not  think  it  unlawful  to 
perfecute,  or  even  to  put  to  death,  obltinate  Here- 
ticks  who  would  deilroy  the  religion  of  our  fore- 
fathers, find  lead  others    into   the  fame  damnation 
with  themi'elves.      If  treafon  againll    one^s  prince 
may  bepunldied  with  death,  why  may  not  treafoii 
againil  the  King  of  heaven  be    punilhed  with  the 

•  'iheeavlicft  accouHts  of  Egypt,  from  whence  thefc  people 
c^mcjiell  us  that  they  had  a  great  veneration  for  their  deccaf- 
ed  anccRors.  See  the  third  part  of  the  Bilhop  of  Meaux'a 
Univcrfdl  Hifiory,  quoted  above. — Diodorus  Siculus,  who 
lived  in  the  beginning  of  Auguflus's  reign,  fays  of  the  Kg)p- 
tians,  they  were  particularly  diligent  about  tlicir  fepulchres, 
or  in  the  worlhip  of  their  dead.  The  fame  fupcrftitlfc  reigns 
fiill  among  the  Chincfe,  whom  I  (hall  fliew  afterwards  to  have 
been  a  colony  of  Egyptians,  notwithftanding  that  China  and 
Egypt  iue  fo  far  dillant   from  each  other. 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  69 

like  penalty  ?  Have  a  care  you  do  not  cad  refle(5li- 
ons  on  the  holy  inquilkion, 
Gaudentio^     Reverend    fathers  !  I  only    relate   bare 
matter  of  fa6l,  as  it  was  fpoke  by  the  mouth  of  a 
Heathen,  ignorant  of  our  holy  myfleries  ;  I  have  all 
tlie  reafon  in  the  world  to  extol  the  juftice  of  the 
holy  Inquifition  :  nor  do  I  think,  but  in  luch   cafes 
mentioned    by  your  Reverences,  it  may  be  lawful 
to  ufe  the    utmoll:    feverities    to  prevent   greater 
evils.     But  it  argued  a  wonderful    moderation  in 
the  Popliar,    which  I  found  to    be  his  real  fenti* 
ments,  not  unbecoming  a  Chriftian  in  fuch  circum- 
ftances,  where  it  did  not  tend  to  the  deftrudion  of 
the  whole. — But  in  this,  as  in  all  other  matters,  I 
fubmit  to  your  decifions. 
Secretary,       1  interpofed  in  his  favour,  and  put  the 
inquiiitors  in    mind,  that    there  was    nothing  but 
wliat  was  jull  in  his  anfvvers  :  and  we  ourfelves  only 
ufe  J  thofe  rigours  in  the.  laft  extremity,  to  prevent 
greater  mifchief  ;  fo  they  bid  him  read  on.] 
AVhen  the  Pophar  had  faid  this,  he  and  the  reft  of 
them  fell  down  on  their  faces  and  killed  the  earth  : 
then  with  the  buming-glafs  they  kindled  fome  odori- 
ferous woods  ;  put  the  coals  in  the  thurible  with  the 
incenfe,    and   incenfed  the  idol  or  flatue  :  that  done, 
they  poured  tlie  wine  on  the  altar  ;  fet  bread  on  tlie 
one  fide,  and  fruits  on  the  other  ;  and    having  light- 
ed two  little   pyramids  of  molt    delicious  perfume  at 
each  end  of  the  great  pyramid,    they  fat  them  dov*^n 
round  the  fountain,  which  Ifuppofc  was  conveyed  by 
art  under  the  pyramid  f,  and  ilfued   out   in  the  rnid- 

tThe  ancient  Egyptians  bad  a  ftrange  fondnefs  for  building 
pyramids  ;  vHiether  they  were  for  the  fame  end  as  the  tower 
of  Rab|L  that  is,  to  malce  themfelves  a  name,  or  for  other 
ends,  we  cannot  tell. — iThe  great  pyramid  is  more  ancient 
than  all  the  red,  infomuch  that  the  beft  authors  do  not  know 
when  to  fix  it'g  date,  lome  fjyir»g  it  was  built  by  Moeris  their 


/O  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

die  of  the  amphitheatre.  There  they  rcfrtflied  thcm- 
fclvcs,  and  gailicred  the  fruits  ^hich  hung  round  us 
ill  the  grove,  eating  of  il^.cm  vcr)'  heartily,  and  invit- 
ing me  to  do  the  like.  I  made  fomedilliculty  at  firl>, 
fearing  it  mi,j;htbc  pait  of  the  faci-ilicc  ;  hut  ilu-y  af- 
furing  me  all  was  but  a  civil  ceremony,  1  joined  them, 
and  did  as  they  did.     The  Pophar  turned  to  me,  and 

*  faid — ^My  fon,  we  worfliip   one  moll  liigh  God  as 

*  )ou  do  :  what  wedidjull  now,  was  not  that  we  be- 

*  lieve  any    deity  in  that  ftatue,  or  adored  it  as  a 

*  God  ;  butorjl)'  rcipe£l  it  as  a  memorial,  and  in  re- 

*  membrance  of  our  great    ancellor,  Mho  heretofore 

*  condu6led  our   fore-fathers    to  this  place,  and  was 

*  buried  in  this  pyramid-'*".  The  reft  of  our  fore-fa- 
'  thers,  who  died  before  ihey  were    forced  to  leave 

*  this  valley,  arc    buried  all  around  us  ;  that    is  the 

*  rcafon  we  killed  tlie  ground,  not    thinking  it  lawful 

*  to  ilir  the  bones  of  the  dead.     We  did  the  lame  in 

*  Eg)'pt,  becaul'e    we  were    originally   of  that  land: 

*  our  pariicular  anceftors  lived  in  that  pnrt,  which 
'  was  afterwards    called   Thebes  'f.     The  time  will 

*  not  permit  me  to  acquaint  you  at  prefent,  how  we 
'  were  driven  out  of  our  native  country  to  this  place, 

*  and  afterwards  from  Uds   pUce  to  the  land  we  are 

*  now  going    to,  but   you  lliall   know  all  hereafter. 

firfl  king,  others  by  Cecrops  LecVor.  But  if  the  account  the 
Pophar  gives  of  their  origin,  at  the  next  flation,  be  true,  it 
>vas  huih  before  there  was  any  king  in  tgvpt.  The  river 
Ijiile  was  conveyed  by  art  under  the  great  pyramid. 

•  One  of  the  ends  of  building  the  pyramids,  was  certain- 
ly for  burying  places  forfome  great  ujen. 

+  Thebes,  once  the  naoQ  famous  city  of  Egypt,  having  a 
hundred  gates,  &c.  vfi'S  tiie  No  Anion,  or  Diafpo^s  of  the 
ancients,  Bochart.  Fhalcg,  Lib.  iv.  Ta^tus  fa^  that  in 
the  time  of  GcrmaniciT^,  there  was  remaining  an  infcription 
in  the  Egyptian  language,  fignifying,  Ilab'ttajfc  quondam 
(Thcbis)  fe^t'in^cnta   inillia   Hom'mum    (State  militaru 


CAUBF.NTIO    DI    LUCCA.  7I 

*  The  bread,  fruits,  and  wine,  we  laid  on  tlie  altar  J, 

*  as  they  are   tlie  chief  fupport  of  our  being ;  fo  we 

*  leave  them  there  as  a  teilimony,  that  the  venerable 

*  old  man,  whofe  itatue  you  fee,  was  under  God,  the 
'  author  and  father  of  our  nation.'  This  laid,  he 
told  us  it  was  time  to  make  the  beft  of  our  way  ;  lb 
they  all  got  up,  and  having  kifl'ed  the  ground  once 
more,  the  five  elderly  men  fcraped  a  little  of  the 
earth,  and  put  it  in  fme  golden  velTels,  with  a  great 
deal  of  care  and  refpeft.  After  refrcfliing  ourfelves 
again,  we  made  our  proviiion  of  fruits  and  water, 
and  leading  our  dromedaries  up  the  way  we  came 
down,  mounted  and  fet  out  for  the  remainder  of  our 
journey. 

We  were  now  paft  the  tropic  of  Ca'ncer^,as  I  found 
by  our  Qiadows  going  fouthward  ;  and  went  on  thus 
a  little,  bending  towards  the  weft  again,  ahnoft 
parallel  to  the  tropick,  the  breezes  increaling  rather 
itronger  than  before,  fo  that  about  midnight  it  was 
really  cold.  We  gave  our  dromedaries  water  aboiit 
fun-rifing,  and  refreflied  ourfelves  a  little  ;  then  fet 
out  with  new  vigour  at  a  prodigious  rate  :  ftill  the 
breezes  fell  between  nine  and  ten ;  however  we  made 
ftiift  to  go  on,  becaufe  they  c»me  again  about  noon  ; 
between  three  and  four  was  the  hotteft  time  of  all. 
Belidcs,  going  now  parallel    to  the    tropic,  we  tra- 

That  there  were  once  feven  hundred  tlioufand  inhabitants  in 
Thebes  fit  to  bear  arms.     TaCit.  lib.  2.  Annal. 

\  This  is  certainly  rank  Idolatry,  notwithflandlng  tlie  Po« 
phar  calls  it  but  a  civil  ceremony.  Thus  the  worlhip  the 
Chinefe  pay  to  their  dead,  and  allowed  by  the  Jefnits,  was 
faid  by  them  to  be  but  a  pious  civil  ceremony,  tliongh  it 
was  like  this,  or  rather  more  fuperfticious.  See  the  condem- 
nation of  it  by  Po0  Clement  XI.       (^ 

*  When  perfons  are  beyond  that  tropic,  at  mid-day  the 
(badows  of  things  arc  towards  the  fouth,  becaufe  the  fun  is 
then  north  of  usj 


72  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

veiled  on  the  hot  faiids,  a  very  little  Jcfccnding  ; 
JwliereQs  when  \vc  pointed  iouthwards  towards  the 
line,  we  found  the  ground  to  be  inlenlibly  riling  upon 
us  II  ;  but  as  wc  went  on  thcle  almoll  itats,  it'it  had 
not  been  that  wc  were  almoll  on  the  ridge  of  Africa, 
"which  made  it  cooler  than  one  can  well  believe,  it 
had  been  impoflible  to  bear  the  heats.  When  wc 
reded,  we  not  only  pitched  our  tents  for  ourfelves 
and  dromedaries,  but  the  fands  wer*  fo  hot,  that  we 
were  forced  to  lay  things  under  our  feet  to  prefcn'c 
them  from  burning.  Thus  wc  travelled  through 
thole  dilinal  defarts  for  four  days,  without  fight  of 
•any  living  creature  but  ourfelves.  Sands  and  (ky 
were  all  that  prefented  i'.lelf  to  our  view.  The 
fatigue  was  the  greateft:  I  ever  underwent  in  my  li^'c. 
.The  fourth  day,  about  eight  in  the  morning,  by  good 
fortune  for  us,  orelfc  by  the  prudent  forccall  of  the 
Pophar,  who  knew  all  his  ftaiions,  we  f:iw  another 
vale  towards  the    right-hand,  with    fome    llraggling 

4rees  here  and  there,  but  not  leeming  uigh  foplea- 
:mt  as  tlie  firll:  :  we  made  to  it  wilh  all  ourrj)eed,  and 
^liad  mudi  ado  to  bear  the  heats  till  we  came  to  it. 
.  AVe  alighted  immediately,   and  led  our  dromedaries 

• 
MiranturciHc  umbras  trjujlrcfmi/iras. 
They  might  have  palfcdthe  tropic  before,  finer  it  runs  over 
part  of  the  dcfart  of  Barca,  not  iniich  fouthward  of  Egypt  j 
but  it  feems  they  l\etred  wi^lhvard  for  fon^.e  time. 

II  His  obfervations  are  juQ,  fmce  all  the  new  philofophers 
allow  the  earth  fpheroidal  and  gibbous  towards  the  etjuutor. 
Whoever  therefore  goes  by  land,  either  from  the  north  or 
fcuth  towards  the  equator,  mufl  afcend.  This  ftfcms  to  be  a 
very  natural reafoi,  why  thofe  immenfe  B.uci  aie  not  fo  Ca- 
celTive  hot.  The  higheQ  mountains  are  confiderably  nigher 
the  fun  than  the  low  lands,  yet  Aceflive  cold  in  the  hottefl 
climates;  in  vale^he  rays  of  the  ri|| are  cooped  in,  audi 
doubled  and  treb!«i  by  refrav^ion  and  refieclion,  &c.  Thai 
fame  air  put  in  a  turbulent  motion  will  be  hot,  and  in  a  di* 
re^  one  cold. 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  7J 

down  the  gentle  defcent  till  we  could  find  a  thicker 
part  of  it.  The  firft  trees  were  thin  and  old,  as  if 
they  had  juft  moifture  enough  to  keep  them  alive ;  the 
ground  was  but  juft  covered  over  with  a  little  fun- 
burnt  mofs,  without  any  fign  of  water,  but  our  ftock 
was  not  yet  gone.  At  length,  as  we  defcended,  the 
grove  encreafed  every  way,  the  trees  were  large, 
with  fome  dates  here  and  there,  but  not  fo  good  as 
in  the  other.  We  refted  a  little,  and  then  continued 
to  descend  for  fome  time,  till  we  came  into  a  very 
cool  and  thick  fliade.  Here,  the  Pophar  told  us,  we 
muft  ftay  two  or  three  days,  perhaps  longer,  till  he 
favv  his  ufual  figns  for  proceeding  on  his  journey ; 
and  bid  us  be  fparing  of  our  water,  for  fear  of  acci- 
dents. We  fettled  our  dromedaries  as  before ; — 
for  ourfelves,  we  could  fcarce  take  any  thing,  we 
were  fo  fatigued,  wanting  reft  more  than  meat  and 
drink.  The  Pophar,  ordering  us  fome  cordial  wines 
they  had  along  with  them  for  that  purpofe,  told  us, 
we  might  lleep  as  long  as  v/e  would  ;  only  bid  us,be 
fiire  to  cover  ourfelves  well  ;  for  the  nights  were  long, 
and  even  cold  about  midnight.  We  v/ere  all  foon 
afleep,  and  did  not  wake  till  four  the  next  morn- 
ing. The  Pophar,  folicitous  for  all  our  lafeties  as 
well  as  his  own,  (for  this  was  th<^critical  time  of  our 
journey)  was  awake  the  firft  of  us.  When  we  were 
up,  and  had  refreflied  ourfelves,  which  we  did  Vv^ith  a 
very  good  appetite,  he  told  us  we  muft  go  up  on  tlie 
fands  again  to  obferve  the  figns.  We  took  our  dro- 
medaries along  with  us,  for  fear  of  wild  beafts,  though 
we  favv  none,  walking  gently  up  the  fands,  till  we 
came  to  a  very  high  ground. 

We  had  but  a  dreary  profpe^l,  as  far  as  our  eyes 
could  carry  us,  of  fun-burnt  plains,  without  grafs, 
ftick,  or  fhrub,^xcept.when  we  turned  our  backs  to 
look  at  the  vale  where  we  had  lain  all  night,  which 
we  fawipreadand  extended  itfclfa  vaft  way.  Heaf- 

C 


74  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA, 

furcd  us,  tlie  notes  left  for  rules  by  his  anceflors, 
mentioned  a  Tpring  in  thut  vale  below  us,  Avhich  run- 
ning lower  became  a  rivulet ;  but  tliat,  either  by  aa 
earthquake,  or  iomc  flood  of  land,  it  was  quite  choak- 
ed  up,  running  under  ground,  without  any  one's 
knowing  whether  it  broke  out  again,  or  was  entirely 
i'wallowed  up*.  He  laid  alfo,  that  by  the  mort  anticrit 
accounts  of  his  forefathers,  the  fands  were  not  in 
their  times  i^o  dangerous  ta  pafs  as  they  are  now,  or 
of  fuch  vafl:  extent  f,  but  had  iriiitfijl  vales  much 
nc  ai  er  cnc  an  other  than  at  prefent.  He  added,  that 
he  Vv'ilhed  earneltly  to  fee  the  figns  he  wanted  for 
proceeding  en  our  way  ;  fince  there  was  no  (lining 
till  they  appeared  ;  ard  that  according  to  h.is  ephcm- 
cris  and  notes,  they  iliould  appear  about  tiiis  time, 
unlefs  fonitthing  vtry  extraordinary  haj  pcned.  This 
was  about  eight  in  the  morning,  tlie  ninth  day  after 
we  fet  out  for  the  dcfarts.  He  was  every  now  ai^.d 
then  l(K)kirg  fouihward,  or  fouth-wcft,  with  great 
folicitude  in  his  looks,  as  if  he  wondered  he  faw 
nothing.  At  lengtli,  he  cried  out,  with  great  emoti- 
ons of  joy — *  It  is  coming  I — Look  yonder,'  fitys  he, 
*  towards    the    fouih  weft,  as  far   as  your  eyes  can 

•  Gcograpbtrs  agree,  tliat  rivers,  and  even  great  hike^  in 
Africa  Ui.k  inidcr  grwui^l^  and  are  quite  \ol\  witlii  ut  any 
vifiblc  cutlets,  'lie  vail  tlcpih  of  tlie  Hrata  of  far.d  fcems 
more  proj^er  to  f« allow  them  up  tlieic,  than  in  other  parts  of 
the  woild. 

t  '1  here  feems  to  be  a  natural  rcafon  for  vrl'at  lie  fays  ; 
for  thofc  vaft  fands  or  hills  i»f  g,ravel,  were  undrnibtccily  left 
by  the  general  dfluge,  as  probably  all  the  Iclfer  llrata  or 
beds  of  gravel  were.  Yet  pait  of  thim  muft  have  been  cc- 
\eied  with  {lime,  or  mud,  for  ffvcral  years  after  the  deluge, 
fome  thinner,  feme  thicker,  and  confequenily  nnore  moill 
and  productive  accordlHgly.  Nevcrthelels,  the  violent 
ra-vs  of  the  fun  fiill  render  them  more  dry  rod  barren,  and, 
ill  a'l  probability,  thefe  defarts  will  er.creafe  wore  and  more, 
v«herc  tl.e  country  is  net  cultivated. 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  7J 

*  carry  you,  and  fee  what  )rOU  can  difcover.'  We 
'  told  him,  we  faw   nothing  butfome  clouds  offand, 

*  carried  round  here  and  there  like  whirlwinds.  That 
'  is  the  fign  I  want,'  continued  he  ;  '  but  mark  well 

*  which  way  it  drives.'  We  faid  itdrove  dire£lly  eaft- 
ward,  as  nigh  as  we  could  guefs.  '  It  does,'  fays 
he  ;  then  turning  his  face  weftvvards,  with  a  little 
point  of  the  fouth — '  All  thofe  vaft  defarts,'  fays 
'  he,  '  are  now  in  fuch  a  commotion    of  ftorms  and 

*  whirlwinds  that  man  and   beaft  will  foon  be  over- 

*  whelmed  in  the  rolling  waves  of  fands.'  He  had 
fcarce  faid  this,  but  we  faw,  at  a  vaft  diftance,  ten 
thoufind  little  whirlfpouts  of  fand,  rifing  and  falling 
with  a  prodigious  tumult  and  velocity*  eaftvvard, 
with  vail  thick  clouds  of  fand  and  duft  following  them. 
— '  Come,'  fays  he,  '  let  us  return  to  our  refting- 
'  place,  for  there  we  muft  ftay,  till    we    fee  further 

*  how  matters  go.'  As  this  appeared  newer  tome 
than  any  of  the  reft:,  and  being  pofteffed  with  a  great  i- 
dea  of  the  man, Imade  bold  to  afk  him,what  was  the  caufe 
of  this  fudden  phaenomenon:  he  told  me  that  about  that 
full-moon  there  always  tell  prodigious  rainsf,  coming 

•  Though  in  the  vaft  ocean  between  the  tr  opics,where  pro- 
moHtorles  do  not  intervene,  tl\e  wiiids  are  general Jy  eaOerly, 
yet  there  is  a  prepetunl  weft  wind  blows  luto  Gjhiea.  There 
are  vafx  rains  at  the  foinices  between  the  tropics,  as  the  ac- 
counts of  ihofe  parts  declare  ;  though  at  that  time  of  the 
year,  more  beyond  the  line  than  on  this  fide  of  it.  It  is  not 
to  be  queflioned  but  in  fuch  violent  changes,  particularly 
before  thofe  rains,  there  muft  be  furious  hurricanes  of  wind 
and  fand,  enough  to  overwhelm  whole  armies  and  countries. 
The  moft  incredible  part  of  this  narration,  is  kow  they  could 
travel  at  all  under  the  tropic,  in  the  fummer  folftice;  only 
as  he  fays  the  ground  being  very  high  and  open,  itraud  draw 
air. 

t  Natural ifts  agree,  that  beyond  the  line  there  are  great 
rains  at  that  feafon.  It  is  poflible  they  may  begin  on  this 
fide,  being  driven  by  the  perpetual  weft  winds  into  Guinea, 


76  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA, 

from  the  weftern  part  of  Africa,  on  tliis  fide  thf 
equator,  and  driving  a  little  fouth-weft  for  feme  time 
at  firft,  but, afterwards  turning  almoft  fouth,  and  erod- 
ing tjie  line  till  they  came  to  the  fource  of  the  Nile  ; 
in  which  parts  they  fell  for  three  weeks  or  a  month 
together  ;  which  was  the  occaiion  of  the  over-flowing 
of  thai  ri\er  X  :  but  that  on  this  lide  the  ec[uator,  it 
only  rair.ed  about  fifteen  days,  preceded  by  thofe 
whirlwir.Js  and  clouds  of  fand,  which  rendered  all 
that  tra<fl  impaiTable,  till  the  rains  had  laid  them  again^ 
By  this  time  we  were  come  down  to  our  reliing  place, 
and  though  we  did  not  want  fleep  or  refrefliment,  yet 
we  took  both  ;  to  have  the  cool  ot  the  evening  to  re- 
create ourfelves  after  fo  muchfatigue,  not  being  like- 
ly to  move  till  the  next  evening  at  fooneft. 

At  five  in  the  evening,  the  Pophar  called  us  up  to 
go  with  him  once  more  to  the  higheft  part  of  the  de- 
larts,  faying  he  wanted  one  fign  yet,  which  he  hoped 
to  have  that  evcnincr,  or  elle  it  would  go  hard  with 
us  for  want  of  water,  our  provifion.of  it  being  almoil 
fpent  ;  and  there  were  no  fprings  in  the  defarts  that 
we  were  to  pafs  over,  rill  we  came  within  a  long 
day's  journey  of  the  end  of  our  voyage.  However, 
he  fcarce  doubted  but  we  fliould  iee  the  certain  figii 
lie  wanted  tliis  evening  ;  on  which  account  there  did 

and  then  by  natural  caufes  turn  towards  the  line  and  fouthern 
tropic. 

i  The  cawfes  of  the  overflowing  of  the  river  Nik,  unknown 
to  mcft  of  the  anciei.ts,  are  now  allowed  to  be  the  great  rains 
falling  In  June  and  July  about  the  line,  and  the  fouthern 
tropick,  and  the  melting  of  the  fnow  on  the  mountains  of  the 
moon  laying  in  that  trad.  None  can  wonder  there  (hould  be 
fnow  in  thofe  liotclimates,who.hiive  heard  of  the  Ancles  crCor- 
diUerias  bordering  on  Peru.  Our  Italy  is  very  hot,  yet  the 
Alps  and  Appenrnes  are  three  parts  of  the  year  covered  with 
fnow.  The  Nile  overfiows  in  Augufl,  whicli.feems  to  be  a 
proper  diflance  of  time  for  the  waters  to  come  down  to  Egypt, 
fuch  a  vaft  way  oif  from  the  caufe  of  it.  There  is  a  river  iu 
Cochinchina,  ^c  elfewhere,  that  overflows  iathe  fau-re  manner. 


OAUDENTIO    Dl    LUCCA.  77 

not  appear  fuch  a  iblicitude  in  his  countenance  as  be  " 
fore  :  for  though   be  was   our    governor,  or  captaim 
and  had  the  refpe<^ful  deference  paid  to  him,  yet  he 
governed  us  in  all  refpe£ls,  as  if  we  were  his  children, 
with  all  the  tendernels  of  a  father,  as  his  name'  im« 
ported  ;  though  none  of  the   company  were    his  real 
children.     If  there  were   any  figns  of  partiality,  it 
was  in  my  favour,  always  expreffing  the  moft  endear- 
ing tendernefs  for  me,  which    the  other  young  men, 
inftead    of  taking  any  diflike  at,  were  really  pleafed 
with.     No  brothers  in  the  world  could  be  more  lov- 
ing to  one  another  than  we  were.     The  elderly  men 
took  delight  in  feeing  our  youthful  gambols  with  one 
another  :  it  is  true  their  nature  is,  of  the  two,  a  little 
more  inclined   to  gravity  than    that  of  the  Italians, 
who  are  no  light  nation ;  yet  their  gravity  is  accom- 
panied with  all  the  ferenity  and  chearfulncfs  imagin- 
able,   and  I  thought  then  at  our  firft    acquaintance, 
that  I  had  never  feen  fuch  an    air  of  a  free-born  peo- 
ple in  my  life  as  if  they  knew  no  other  fubje£\ion  but 
what  was  merely  filial.     When  wc  came  to  the  high 
ground,  we    could   fee  the  hurricanes  play  ftill  ;  but 
what  was  more    wonderful,  very    few  effe^ls  of  that 
serial   tumult  came  our  way,  but  drove  on  almoft  pa- 
rallel to  the  equator :  the  air  looked  like  a  brown  dir- 
ty fog,  towards  the  eaft  and  fouth-eaft  ;  all  the  whirl- 
winds tending   towards  ^hofe  parts  :  it  began  after 
forae    time   to  look  a  little  more    lightfome  towards 
the  weft  ;  but  fo,  as  if  it  were  occalioned  by  a  more 
ftrong  and  fettled  wind.     At  length,  we  perceived 
at  the  fartheft  horizon,  the  edge  of  a  prodigious  black 
eloud,  extending  itfelf  to  the  fouth-weft  and  weftern 
points,  rifing  with  a  diicernible  motion,  though  not 
veiy  faft.     We  faw    plain    enough,  b)'  the  blacknefs 
ana  thicknefs  of  it,  that  it  prognofticated  a  great  deal 
of  rain.     Here  they  all  fell    proftrate    on  the  earth  ; 
\\Kn  raifmg  up  their  hands  and  eyes  towards  the  fun, 

2, 


78  CAUDENTIO    Dl    LUCCAV 

they  icemed  to  pay  t]icir  adorations  to  that  great  lu- 
minary. The  Pdphar,  with  an  audible  voice,  pro- 
nounced fome  unknown  words,  as  if  he  were  returning 
thinks  to  tliat  planet  for  what  he  faw.  At  this  I 
flepjied  back,  and  kept  myieU' at  a  diftance;  not  fo 
much  for  fear  of  my  life,  as^  before,  as  not  to  join 
with  them  in  their  idolatrous  worfiiip.  For  I  could 
not  be  ignorant  now,  that  they  hud  a  wrong  notion 
of  God,  and  if  they  acknowledged  any,  it  was  the 
fun  :  which  in  efl'c^l  is,  the  leait  irrational  idolatry 
people  can  be  guilty  of*.  When  they  had  done  their 
oraifofis,  the  Pophar  turned  to  me,  and  faid — '  I  ice 
•"  you  won^t  join   with  us   in  any  of  our  religious  ce- 

*  remonies  ;  but  I  muft  tell  you,'  continued  he,  *  that 

•  clcud  is  the  faving  of  all  our  lives  :  and  as  that  great 

♦  fun,'  pointing  to    the  luminary,  '  is  the  inllrument 

•  All  idolatry  being  a  worOjip  of  creatures  inftcad  of  the 
o!ie  Supreme  Ood,  mud  be  irrational.  But  it  is  certain  and 
veil  attcfled  by  aiicicntliif^ory,  that  tiie  eartern  nations \vor- 
lliiped  the  fun  :  probably  it  was  the  firft  idolatrous  >Yorfljip 
that  was  in  the  world.  'Ihe  grc»t  benefits  all  nature  receives 
i\:>m  his  influence  ;  the  glorious  brlghtnels  of  his  rays  ;  the 
variety,  yet  conllant  tenor  of  his  motions,  might  induce  ig- 
norant people  to  believe  him  to  be  of  a  i'upcrior  natur*  to 
ether  creatures,  though  it  is  evidently  certain,  he  is  lin)ited 
in  his  prefeflions,  and  confequently  no  God,  It  is  true,  the 
ancient  Egyptians,  from  whom  thefe  people  fpning,  as  will 
be  feen  afterwards,  worfljiped  the  fun  in  the  moll  early  times. 
1'hcre  was  a  prieft  of  the  fun  in  the  patriarch  Jofcph's  time. 
And  the  Egyptians  were  fome  of  the  fu ft  alhonomtrs  in  the 
woilol,  coiuending  for  antiquity  with  the  (Chaldeans.  Though 
both  the  Ciialdeans  and  Egyptians  had  their  knowledge  from 
the  defcendants  of  Shem,  or  his  fatlier  Noali,  who  by  the  ad. 
mirable  ftrudure  of  the  ark,  appears  to  have  been  mafter  of 
•very  great  tUcncef.  1  fay  the  Egyptians  being  lb  much  addiil- 
ed  to  aftror.omy,  it  is  probable  tlut  glorious  luminary  was  the 
chief  »bje(f\  of  their  worlliip.  They  did  not  worfhip  idol*  and 
VeaQs  till  long  alttrwards.  See  the  Icarr.ed  Bocuabt's  1'ha^ 

XS.9*  IM  Mj&SAJM. 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA,  J^ 

*  tkat  draws  it  up,  as  indeed  he  is  the  preferver  of 
'  all  our  beings,  we  think  ourlelves  obliged  to  return 
'  our  thanks  to  him.'  Here  he  flopped,  as  if  he  had 
a  mind  to  hear  what  I  could  fay  for  myfelf.  I  was 
not  willing  to  enter  into  difputes,  well  knowing  that 
religious  quarrels  are  the  moll  provoking  of  any  ;yet 
I  thought  myielf  obliged  to  make  profeiiion  of  my 
belief  in  the  fupreme  God,  now  I  was  culled  upon  to 
the  profeffed  worfliip  of  a  falfe  deity,  lanfwered 
with  the  moft  modtift  refpe£l  I  was  capable  of,  that 
that  glorious  planet  was  one  of  the  phyfical  caufes  of 
the  prefervation  of  our  beings,  and  of  the  producti- 
on of  all  things  ;  but  that  he  was  produced  hiinfelf 
by  the  moft  high  God,  the  firft  caufe  and  author  of 
all  things  in  heaven  and  earth  ;  the  fun  only  moving, 
by  his  order,  as  an  inanimate  being,  incapable  of  hear- 
ing our  prayers,  and  only  operating  by  his  diredlion. 
However,  I  offered  to  join  with  him  in  returning  my 
beft  thanks  to  the  moft  high  God,  for  creating  the 
fun,  capable  by  his  heat  to  raife  that  cloud  for  the 
faving  our  lives.  Thus  I  adapted  my  anfwer,  as  nigh  to 
his  difcourfc  as  I  c©uld,  yet  not  foas  to  deny  my  faith. 
For  I  could  not  entirely  tell  what  to  make  of  tlieiu 
as  yet  j  fince  1  oblerved,  they  were  more  myfterious 
in  their  religious  ceremonies,  than  in  any  thing  elfe*  y 
or  rather,  tliis  was  the  only  thing  they  were  relerv- 
ed  in.  He  pondered  a  good  while  on  what  I  faid, 
but   at   length  he  added — 'You  are  not  much  out  of 

*  This  agrees  with  all  ancient  accounts  of  the  firft  people 
of  Egypt  ;  wltnefs  their  emblems,  hieroglyphieks,  &c.  Moft 
of  the  ancient  fables,  under  wliich  fo  many  myderies  were 
couched,  did  not  firl\  fpring  from  the  Greeks,  though  im- 
proved by  them;  but  from  the  Egyptians  and  Ghakleans, 
'>vho  at  firft  held  a  communication  of  fciences  with  one  ano- 
ther, but  grew  to  eraulofity  afterwards.  The  wonderful 
thir.gs  the  Egyptian  Magi  did,  in  imitation  of  the  miracles 
frought  by  Mofesp  ftiew  tliey  were  great  ^rtidsr 


80  CAUDEKTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

*  the  way  ;  you  and  I  will  talk  this  mntter    over  ano- 

*  ther  time  ;'  io  turned  oflf   the    dilcourfc  ;  I  fuppoC- 
cdit  tobebecaufe  of  the  young    men  ftanding  by  us, 
Nvlio  he  had  not  a  mind  (hould  receive    anv  other  no- 
lions  of  religion,  but  what  they  bad  been  taught.     It 
was  fun-fctbv  the  time  we    came  down  to  the  :jrove. 
We  had  fomc  fmall  flights  of  land,    caufcdby  an  odd 
commotion  in  thcair,  ntlcnded  with  liule  whirlwinds, 
which  put  us  in  fomc  apprchcnfions  of  aiand-lliowcr  j 
but  he  bid  us  take  courage,  fmce  he  could  not  find 
in  all  his  accounts  that  the    hurricanes  or  rains  ever 
came,  in  any  great  quantity  as  far  as  we  were,  the  na- 
ture of  them  being  to  drive  more  parallel  to  the  equa- 
tor :   but  he  was-Viire  we  lliould  have  fome  ;   and  or- 
dered us-to  pitch  our  tents  as  firm  as  we    could,  and 
draw  out  all  our  water  vcllcls  to  catci\  th;i  rain  againit 
all  accidents.  When  this  was  done,and  we  luid  rat  our 
fuppcrs,  wc  recreated  ourfelves  in  the  grove,  wander- 
ing about  here  and  tlierc,  and  dilcourilng  of  the  nature 
of  thefe  pha:nomena.     We  did  not  cnre  to  go  to  reft 
fo  foon,  having  repofcd  ourfelves  fo  well  that  day,  and 
having  all  the    following  night  and    the    next  day  to 
flay  in  that  place.      The  gr»jvc  grew  much  pleafanter 
as  wc  advanced    into  it ;   there    were  a  great  many 
dates  and  other  fruits,  the  natural  produce  of  Africa  ; 
but  not  (juite  fo  rich    as  in  the     firll  grove.  1  made 
bold  to  afk  the  Pophar,  how  far  that  grove  extended, 
or  whether    there    were  any  inhabitants,     lie  told 
me,  he  could  not  tell  any   thing    of  either.      That  ic 
was  polliblc    the  grove  might  enlarge  itlelf  different 
%vays,  among  the  winding  hills,  fince  iiis  accounts  told 
him,  there  had  been  a  rivulet   of  water,    though  now 
fwallowed  up;  but  he  believed  there    were  no  inha- 
bitants, fmce  there  was  no  mention  made  of  them  it% 
his  papers.     Nor  did  he  believe  any    other  people  ia 
the  world,  bcfide  themfelvcs  knew  the  way,  or  would 
venture  fo  f;^r  into  thofc  horrid    iiihofpi table  defarw* 


GAUDE'nTIO    DI    LUCCA.  8i 

Having  a  mind  to  learn  whether  he  had  any  certain 
knowledge  of  the  longitude,  which  creats  fuch  dif- 
ficulties to  the  Europeans,  I  afked  how  lie  was  fure 
that  was  the  place,or  by  what  rule  he  could  know  how 
far  he  was  come,  or  where  he  was  to  turn  to  right  or 
left.  He  flopped  a  little  at  my  queftion  ;  then,  with- 
out any  apparent  helitation — '  Why,'  fays  he,-  '  we 
'  know  by  the  needle  how  far  we  vary  from  the  north 
'  or  fouth.  point,  at  lead  till  we  come  to  the  tropic]' 
'  if  not,  we  can  take  the  meridian  and  heisiht  of  the 
'  fun,  and  knowing  the  time  of  the  year,  we  can  tell 
'  how  near  we  approach  to,  or  are  off  the  equator.' — 
'  Yes,'  faid  I,  '  but  as  there  are  different  meridians* 
'  every  flepyyu  take,  how  can  you  tell  how  far  you 

*  go  eaft  or  weft,  when  you  run  either  way  in  parallel 

*  linesj  to  the  tropic  or  the  equator?'  Here  he  flop- 
ped again,  and  either  could  not  make  any  certain  dif- 
covery,  or  had  not?  a  mind  to  let  me  into  the  fecret. 
The  firft  was  moll  likely  ;  however  he  anfwered  rea- 
dily enough,  and  faid — '  You  pleafe  me  with  your 

*  curious  quellions,  fmce  I  find  you  are  fenfible  of  the 

t  ExjT.erimental  philofophy  tells  us,  that  the  needle  is  of 
little  ufe  in  navigation,  when  under  the  Hue  ;  but  lies  fluc- 
tuating without  .turning  to  any  point  of  itfelf,  becaufe,  as 
feme  fuppofe,  the  current  of  the  magnetic  e/fluvia,  flying 
from  pole  to  pole,  has  there  its  longeft  axis,  as  the  diameter 
of  the  equator  is  longrr  than  the  axis  of  the  world.  Hut 
vfliether  this  has  the  fame  eifeft  on  the  needle  by  land, 
>*hich  is  the  cafe,  as  it  has  by  fea,  we  mjflhave  more  certain 
experiments  to  know,  though  it  is  probable  it  may. 

\  Wlierever  we  fland,  we  are  on  the  funimit  of  the  globe 
with  refpedl  to  us.  Whoever  therefore  thinks  to  go  due  wefl, 
parallel  to  the  equator,  or  eafl,  wilLnotdo  fo,  but  will  cut 
the  line  at  long-run,  becaufe  he  makes  a  greater  circle.  Thefe 
men  therefore,  when  thsy  thought  they  went  due  well,  were 
approaching  to  the  line,  more  than  they  were  aware  of,  and  . 
fuppofing  the  flru£lure  of  the  earth  to  be  fpheroidical,  went 
Hp  hill  all  the  way,  bating  fome  fmall  inequalities. 


il  CAUDtNTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

*  difiicuhy.     Why,*  continued  lie,  *  all  the  method 

*  \vc  have  is,  to  obfcrvc  exa<^ly   how  far  our  drome- 
'  darics  go  in  an  hour,  or  any  other  fiKice  of  time  :  yod 

*  fee  we  go  much  about  the  fame  pace  ;  we  have  ro 
•flops  in  our  way,  but  what  we  know  of,    to  refrefli 

*  ourfelves  or  fo,  for  which  we  generally  allow  fo  much 
'  time.*     When  we  fct  out  from  Kgypt,  we  went  due 

*  weft;  our  beafts  gain  fo  many  miles  an  hour  ',  wc 
'  know  by  that  how  far  we  are  more  weft   than  wc 

*  were.f     If  wc  decline  to  the  north  or  the    fouth, 

*  we  knowllkewife,  how  many  miles  we  have  advnn- 

*  cedin  fo  nv.iny  hours,  and  computo  how   much  the 

*  "dc-rlination  takes  off  from  our  going  due  weft.      And 

*  though  we  cannot  tell  to  a  demonftrativce.\a(5lncfs,we 

*  can  tell  pretty  nigh.'  This  was  all  I  could  get  out 
of  him  at  that  lime,  v^hich  did  not  fatisfy  the  difTicul- 
ty.  I  aft^  1  »rnrds  afkcd  him,  liow  they  came  to  find 
out  this  way,  or  to  venture  to  feck  out  a  habitation 
unknown  to  all  the  world    befide.     He   anfsvered— 

*  For  r.uertv,  and  the  prefervation  of  our  laws.'  I 
was  afraid  of  afking  any  farther,  feeing  he  gave  fuch 
geneial  anfw»;r.'^.  By  this  tiuie,  it  was  prodigious 
dark,  though  full  moon.t     'W'e  had  iome  little  gufts 

•  TUis  muff  be  underffood  according  to  tlie  foregoing  re- 
mark. 

t  At  fir(f  figlit,  it  fecms  to  be  eafier  to  find  cut  tlie  lon- 
gitude by  lai.d  dian  by  ff:i,  bccaufe  we  may  be  more  certain 
how  far  wc  advance  At  fe;t  there  are  currents,  and  tides, 
and  fettings  in  of  the  fea,  which  make  tlic  Diip  to  go  aflant 
more  or  Lfs  i:i!'cn!ibly.  As  yet  tUeic  has  been  no  certain 
rwlc  found  to  ttll  us,  bow  far  we  advance  due  e.t(>or  due  wcff. 
The  elevation  of  the  pole,  or  the  height  of  the  fun,  fliows 
us,  how  far  we  decline  to  the  north  or  fouth  j  but  we  have  no 
certain  rule  fur  tjjc  eaf\  or  weft. 

\  The  full  moon  about  the  fummer  fol{\ice  generaUy  brings 
rain,  and  the  overflowing  of  the  Nile  is  now  known  to  be 
caufed  by  the  vail  rain*  in  tVie  regions  near  the  equator. 


GAUDENTIO    DI  LUCCA.  8j 

of  wind  that  ftartled  us  a  little  ;  and  it  lightened  at 
fuch  a  rate  as  I  never  faw  in  my  life.  And  althpugh 
it  was  towards  the  horizon,  and  drove  fidc'Ways  of 
us,  yet  it  was  really  terrible  to  fee  ;  the  flaQies  were 
fo  thick  that  the  fky  was  almofl:  in  a  light  fire.  We 
made  up  to  our  tents  as  fall  as  we  could  ;  and  though 
we  had  only  the  ikirts  of  the  clouds  over  us,  it  rained 
fo  very  hard,  that  we  had  our  veiTels  foon  fupplied 
with  water,  and  got  fafe  into  our  (helter.  The  thun- 
der was  at  a  vaft  di[l:ance,  but  juft  audible,  and,  for  our 
comfort,  drove  Hill  to  the  eaitward.  I  do  not  know 
in  what  dilpoiitions  the  elderly  men  miglit  be,  being 
accuflomed  to  the  nature  of  it ;  but  T  am  fure  I  was  in 
fome  apprehenfion,  fully  perfuaded,  if  it  had  come  di- 
rectly over  us,nothing could  withftand  it's  impetuofity, 
1  had  very  little  inclination  to  reli:,  whatever  my  com* 
panions  had  ;  but  pondering  with  myfelf,  both  the  na- 
ture of  the  thing,  and  the  prodigious  (kill  thefe  men 
muft  have  in  the  laws  of  the  univerfe,  I  ftaid  with 
impatience  waiting  the  event. 

I  was  mufmg  with  myfelf  on  what  I  had  heard  and 
Icen,  not  being  able  yet  to  guefs  with  any  fatisfa£li- 
on,  what  tliefe  people  were,  when  an  unexpedled  ac- 
cident v/as  the  caufe  of  a  difcovery,  which  made  me 
fee  they  were  not  greater  ftrangers  to  me,  than  I  waa 
to  myfelf.  The  weather  was  Itifiing  hot,  fo  that  we 
had  thrown  off  our  garments  to  our  iliirts,  and  bared 
our  breads  for  coolnefs  fake  ;  when  there  came  a 
prodii^ious  flalli,  or  rather  blaze  of  lightning,  which 
Itruck  fullagainll  the  brcaft  of  one  of  the  young  men 
oppofit*;;  tome,  and  difcovered  a  bright  gold  medal 
hanging  down  from  his  neck,  with  tiie  figure  of  the 
fun  engraved  on  it,  furrounded  with  unknown  cha- 
ra£lers;  the  very  fame  in  all  appearance  I  had  feen 
my  deceafed  mother  always  wear  about  her  neck, 
,and  fince  her  death  I  carried  with  me  for  her  fake.  I 
afked  the  meaning  of  that  medal,  fmce  I  had  one  a- 
.bout  me,  as  iiappeared,  of  the  very  lame  make.    If 


^4  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

the  Pophar  had  been  flruck  with  lightning,  he  could 
not  have  been  in  a  greater  furprize  than  he  was  at 
thefe  words. — 'You  one  of  thole  medals,' faid  he; 

*  how,  in  the  name  of  wonder,  did  you  come  by  it  ?'  I 
told  him  my  mother  wore  it  about  her  neck  from  a 
little  child;  and  with  that  pulled  it  out  of  my  pock- 
et. He  Inatched  it  out  of  my  hands  with  a  prodigi- 
ous eagernefs,  and  held  it  againll  the  lightning  perpe- 
tually Hafhing  in  upon  us.  As  foon  as  he  faw  it  was 
the  fame  with  the  other,  he  cried  out — '  Great  Sun, 
'^what  can  tliis  mean  r'  Thcnafived  me  a^rain,  where 
I  had  it  ?  how  my  motlicr  came  by  it?  who  my  mother 
was  ?  what  age  flie  w,as,  when  (lie  died  ?  As  foon  as 
tlie  violence  of  his  extacy  would  give  me  leave,  I 
told  him  my  mother  had  it  ever  fiijce  flie  was  a  little 
child  :  that  fl)e  was  the  adopted  daughter  of  a  noble 
merchant  in  Corfica,  who  had  given  her  all  his  effedls 
•when  my  father  married  lier  :  that  (he  was  married  at 
thirteen ;  and  I  being  nineteen,  and  tliC  lecond  Ion, 
I  guclled  file  was  towards  forty  when  (he  died. — 'Jt 
'mull  be  Jfiphenu  1'  cried  he,  with  the  utmod  extacy, 
'.  itJTiuftbe  flie.'  Then  he  caught  me  in  his  arms,  ard 
feid — '  You  are  now  really  one  of  us,  being  the  grand- 
'  fon  of  my  father's  daughter,  my  dear  filler  Ifiphena.' 
The  remembrance  of  whom  made  the  tears  rundown 
the  eld  man's  cheek  very  plentifully. — 'She was  loft 

*  at  Grand  (^airo  about  the  time  you   mention,  toge- 

*  ther  with  a  tvvin-iillcr,  who  I  fear  is  never  to  be 
'.hcaidof.'  Then  I  rcile«5led  1  had  heard  my  mother 
fay,  Ihe  had  been  informed,  the  gentleman  who  a- 
dopted  her  for  his  daughter  Ind  boiiglit  her  when  flie 
was  a  little  girl  of  a  'i  urkifli  wonuiu  of  that  place; 
that  being  charmed  with  the  early  Ii^M)s  of  beauty  in 
lier,  and  having  no  children,  he  adopted  her  for  his 
own.  'Yes,' laid  the  Pophar,  'itmuft  be  flie;  but 
'what  has  become  of  the  other  After  ?  For,'  faid  he., 

*  my  dear  fifter  brought  two  at  one  unrorttwatebirthj 
'  which  cofl:  her  her  life.'     I  told  hm  jftever  heard 


I 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  85 

^ny  thing  of  the  other.  Then  he  acquainted  me  that 
his  filler's  huihand  was  the  perfon  who  condueled  the 
reft  to  vifit  the  tombs  of  their  ancsftors,  as  he  did  now : 
that  the  laft  voyage,  he  took  his  wife  with  him,  who 
out  of  her  great  fondnefs  had  teazed  him  and  importun- 
ed him  fo  much  to  go  along  with  him,  that,  though  it 
was  contrary  to  their  laws,  he  contrived  to  carry  her 
difguiicd  in  man's  cloathes,  Hke  one  of  the  youn^'^ 
men  he  chofe  to  accompany  him  in  the  expedition  : 
that  ftaying  at  Grand  Cairo  till  the  next  feafon  for 
his  return,  (lie  proved  with  child  of  twins;  and  to  his 
unfpeakable  grief  died  in  child-bed.  That  when  they 
carried  her  up  to  Thebes  to  be  interred  with  her  an- 
cellors,  of  which  I  fliould  have  a  more  exa6l  informa- 
tion  by  and  by,  they  were  obliged  to  leave  the  chil- 
dren with  a  nurie  of  the  country,  with  fome  Egypti- 
an fervants  to  take  care  of  the  houie  and  effects  ;  but 
before  they  came  back,  the  nurfe,  with  her  accompli- 
ces, ran  away  with  the  children,  and,  as  was  fuopofed 
murdered  them,  rifled  the  houie  of  all  the  jewels  and 
other  valuable  things,  and  were  never  heard  of  after- 
wards. But  it  feems  they  thought  it  more  for  their 
advantage  to  fell  the  children,  as  we  find  they  did  by 
your  mother;  but  what  part  of  the  world  the  other 
lifter  is  in,  or  whether  (he  be  at  all,  is  known  only  to 
the  great  author  of  our  being.  'However,'  continued 
he,  '  we  rejoice  in  finding  tliefe  hopeful  remains  of 
'  your  dear  grand-mother,  whofe  refeinblance  you 
'  carry  along  with  you.     It  was  that  gave  me  fucli  a 

*  kindnefsfor  your  perfon  the  firit  time   I  faw  you 

*  methought,  perceiving  fomething  I  had  never  ob- 
'  ferved  in  any  other  race  of  people.  But,'  faid  he, 
'  I  deprive  my  companions  ond  children  here  of  the 
^  happinefs  of  embracing  their  own  fielh  and  blood 
'  fince  we  all  fprung  from  one  common  fatlier,  the 
'  the  author  of  our  natioii,  with  whom  you  are  go- 

*  ing  to  be  incorporated  4ince  more.'     Here  we   em- 

^  H 


S6  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA, 

braced  one  anotlier  with  a  joy  that  is  inexpreiTiblc 
Now  all  my  former  fears  -were  entirely  \amlhed  : 
though  I  had  loil  the  country  where  I  was  born,  I 
found  another,  of  which  I  could  no  waysbe  afliamed, 
where  tlie  people  were  the  moll:  humane  and  civilized 
I  ever  iavv,  and  the  foil  the  fined,  as  1  had  rcaion  to 
hope,  in  the  world.  '1  he  only  check  to  my  happi- 
ncfs  was  that  they  were  infidels.  Howc\'er,  I  was 
refolved  not  to  let  any  confideration  blot  out  of  my 
mind  that  I  was  a  Chrillian.  On  which  account, 
when  the  Pophar  would  have  tied  the  medal  about 
my  neck,  as  a  badge  of  n}y  race,  I  had  fome  dilliculty 
in  that  point,  for  fear  it  liiould  be  an  emblem  of  idol- 
atry, feeing  them  to  be  extremely  fuperftitious.  So 
I  alked  him,  wliat  was  the  meaning  of  the  figure  of 
the  fun,  with  thofe  imknown  charatitcrs  round  about 
it.  He  told  me  the  characters  Weije  to  be  pronounced 
Omabivi^  i.  e.  The  sun  is  the  author  of  our  benign  or 
more  litcrall}^  T he  Siui  h  our  Father.  Ovi  or  0«, 
fignifies  the  ^m\,  [This  will  be  explained  in  anotljer 
place.]  Jb  fignifies  Father^  Im  or  Mira  Us.  This 
made  me  remember,  they  had  told  me  in  Egypt,  that 
they  were  children  of  the  Sun  ;  and  gave  me  fome  un- 
eafinefs  at  their  idolatrous  notions.  I  therefore  told 
him,  I  would  keep  it  as  a  cognizance  of  my  country  ; 
but  could  not  acknovv'ledge  any  but  God  to  be  the  fu- 
preme  Author  of  my  being.  ^  As  to  the  fupreme 
'  Author,'  faid  he,  *  your  opinion  is  little    different 

*  from  ours.'* 

*  But  let  us  leave  thefe  religious  matters  till    ano- 

*  then  time  :  we'll  dole  this  happy  day  with  thankf- 
'  givirig  to  the  Supreme  Being  for  this  difcovery  :  to- 
'  morrow^  morning,  fince  you  are  now  really    one   of 

*  us,  I  will  acquaint  you  with  your  origin,  and  bow 

♦Tbcfe  people  are  fcmethiiig  like  the  Chinefe,  who  wor- 
finp  ti;ie  Jiia:er:ui  heaven  or  fKy,  \vhich  fome  miffionaries  couM 
think  compatible  with  Chrifiianlty.  *^ 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  B7 

'  we  came  to  hide  ourfelves  in  thefe  inhof[Ditable  de- 

*  flirts.' 

[Tbe  reader  is  desired  not  to  censure  or  disbelieve  the 
folb'iuing  account  of  the  origin  and  transmigration 

of  these  people^  till  he  has  perused  the  learned  re^ 

marks  of  Signor  Rhedi.] 

'The  next  morning  the  Pophar  calling  me  to  him; 
'  Son,'  faid  he,  '  to  fulfil  my  promlle  which  T  made 

*  you  lall  night,  and  that  you  may  not  be  like  the  red 

*  of  the  ignorant  world,  wlio  know  not  who  their 
'  forefathers  and  anceilors  were  ;*  whether  they 
'  fprung  from  brutes  or  Barbarians  is  all  alike  to  them, 
'  provided  they  can  but  grovel  on  the   earth  as  they 

do.  You  mud  know  therefore,  as  I  fuppofe  you  re- 
member v/hat  I  told  you  at  our  firil  ilation,  that 
we  came  originally  from  Egypt.  When  you  afked 
'  me,  how  we  came  to  venture  through  thjfe  inhoi- 
'  pitable  defarts,  I  told  you,  it  was  for   liberty,    and 

*  the  prefervation  of  our  laws  :  but  as  you  are  now 

*  It  would  certainly  be  a  great  fatisfaflion  to  niofl  nations 
to  know  fron=)  what  race  of  people,  country,  or  family,  they 
fprung  originally.  I'his  ignorance  is  owing  chielly  to  the 
Barbari  Trarnontani  ^;  and  otJier  Northern  nations,  who  have 
from  time  to  time  overrun  the  face  of  Europe  ;  leaving  a 
mixture  of  their  fpawn  in  allpr.rts  of  it ;  fo  ih-At  n^  on«  knows 
whether  he  come  originally  from  Scythia  or  Afia,  from  a 
civlhzed  nation,  or  fro-^i  thegreateflbiu-es  ;  and  iliti'j^h  wars 
and  invafions  have  defiroyed  or  interchanged  tlie  inhabitants 
of  nioft  countries,  yet  this  man's  o'ofervation  is  a  juft  cenfure 
of  the  negledl  of  moft  people,  with  Vcfpedl  to  th^ir  genealogy 
and  knowledge  of  their  anceltors,  where  tliey  have  bepn  fet- 
tled in  a  country  for  feveral  ages.  But  there  are  matters  of 
greater  moment  in  this  man's  relation,  true  or  falfe,  which 
lead  us  into  fonie  curious  remains  of  ancient  hiftory. 

^  Signor  Rhedi  being  an  Italian,  one  cannot  wordcr  he 
fpeaks  fo  contemptibly  of  the  Northern  people}  the  Italians 
call  Uiem  all  Baibiiri. 


S8  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

*  found  to  be  one  of  us,  I  defign  to  give  you  a  moFc 

*  particular  account  of  your   origin.     Our  ancellors 

*  did  originally  come  from  Eg\pt,  once  the  happieft 

*  place  in  the  world  :  though    the    name    of  Egypt, 

*  and  Egyptians  has  been  given  to  that  country,  long 
'  fmce  wtr  caine  out  of  it ;  the   original  name   of  it 

*  was  Mezzoraim,-]-  from  the  firfl  man  that  peopled  it, 
'  the  father  of  our  nation  ;     and  we    call   ourlVlves 

*  Mtzzoranians  from  him.     Wc  have  a  tradition  de- 

*  livered  down  to  us  from    our    fufk  anceltors,    that 
'  when  the  earth  nrft  roui  out  of  the  water^J  lix  pcr- 

*  foiis,  three  men  and  three  women  rofe  along  with 

*  it  J  either  fent  by  the  Supreme  Deity  to  inhabit   it,. 

t  The  original  name  of  Egypt  was  MIfraim  ;  from  Mlfialm, 
Kltforaim,  or  Metforainij  as  the  learned  Bocliart  explains  it  , 
lib.  iv.of  Gecgraph.  Sacra  in  MiiVaim,  Mr.  Dii  Pin's  Hillovy 
of  the  Old  Telt.  c.  vi.  and  others.  All  ancient  auihors  agree, 
tliat  it  wits  orxe  tlie  lichell  and  haj)pien  country  in  the  world  ; 
flourilhir-g  with  plenty,  and  even  learning,  before  the  patri- 
arch Abral^am's  time.  There  is  a  very  remarkable  frag- 
ment of  Eupolemus,  an  ancient  Heathen  writer,  taken  from 
the  Bibylonian  monuments,  preierved  by  Eulcbius,  lib. 
ix.  Pracparat.  Evan.  'i'he  whole  fragment,  in  our 
mother  tongue,  fignifies,  tliat  according  to  the  Babylo- 
nians, the  firrt  was  Belus,  the  lame  with  Kronos  or  Saturn  ; 
froin  him  come  Plam  or  Cham,  the  father  of  Chanaan,  brother 
to  MeiVaim,  father  of  tlie  Egyptians. 

:|Tliis  is  an  obfcure  notion  of  Noah's  flood,  known  to  all 
rations,  at  leart  the  Eaftern,as  appears  by  the  oldcfl:  remains, 
cf  which  fee  Bochait  on  that  article.  lil».  i.  'The* earth 
<  rofe  out  of  the  water,  or  the  waters  funk  from  the  earth. 
Thefe  people  might  midake  fomething  of  that  un^>ubted  and 
ancient  tradition.  But  MilVaim  could  not  be  ignorant  of 
the  flood,  his  father  Ham  having  been  in  the  arkf  whether 
ignorance  or  other  motives  made  his  poflerity  vary  in  the  ac- 
count ;  but  it  is  evident  the  ancients  had  a  uotion  ot  the  ge- 
neral deluge,  as  may  eafdy  by  proved  by  the  remains  of 
Heathen  authors  bearing  teftimony  to  the  Scripture  account 
of  it. 


GAITDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  89 

*  or  prodatedby  the  Sun.*"  That  Mezzoraim,  our 
'  firft  founder  was  one  of  thofe  fix  ;  who  increafing 
'  in  number  made  choice  of  the  country  now  calkd 
'  t'-gypt,'!'  for  thif  place  of  liis  habitation,  where  he 
*■  fettled  with  fixty,  of  his  children  and  grand-chil- 
'  dren,  all  whom  he  brought  along  with  him,  govern- 

*  ing  them  as  a  real  father,  and  inftrucling  them  to  live 
'  with  one  another  as  brothers  of  one  and.  the  fame 
'  family  .J  He  was  a  peaceable  man,  abhorring  the 
'  fliedding  of  blood, |]  which  he  faid  would  be  punifti- 


•  The  ancient  Egyptians  thoirght  men,  as  well  as  infe(f!l3, 
vere  prodaced  out  of  the  flime  of  the  Nile,  by  the  heat  of 
the  fun,  and  called  themfelves  Aborigines,  as  feveral  other 
nations  did.  Though  this  wife  man  is  inclined  to  think  they 
■were  created  Vy  God,  as  it  is  evident  and  certain  they  were  ; 
for  fince  we  fee  one  fingle  infect  cannot  he  produced  without 
a  canfp,  it  is  nonfenfe,  as  well  as  in^poifible,  to  imagine  an 
infmite  fcries  of  men  and  animals  could  be  produced  without 
a  feparate  caufe  :  on  which  account  Atheifm  is  one  of  the 
mofl  fooling  and  abfurd  notions  in  the  world. 

t  Herodotus  tells  us,  the  Egyptians  pretended  to  be  the 
firft  inhabitants  of  the  earth;  though  the  Ethiopians  contend- 
ed with  them  for  antiquity.  I  .muft  quote  the  words  iti 
Latj:i,  out  of  Laurenzo  Vallo's  tranflation,  becaufe  I  have 
him  not  in  Greek  *0m«iw7«    Homimim  prior es  fe   extit\ff& 

*  arbitrabantur* — They  efieemed  themfelves,'  fays  he, 'to 

*  have  been  the  Hrft  of  all  men*'     Hekodot.  lib.  ii,  Eu- 

TEHPE. 

:f  It  is  certain  from  Rochart,  and  other  learned  authors, 
that  the  Egyptian  government,  as  well  as  that  of  moft  na- 
tions,-was  at  (irfl  patriarchal  :  till  Nimrod  founded  the  firft 
kingdom  or  empire  in  the  world  j  whole  example  others  fol- 
lowed, according  to  their  power.  However,  the  patriarchal 
government  was  foq^i  broke  in  upon  in  Egypt,  fmce  they  had- 
kingiin  Abraham  andlfaac's  time,  as  we  learn  from  the  Old 
Te {lament.   See  Bocbart's  Gsograph'ia  Sacra. 

I!  Tiie  celebrated  Bifliop  of  Mtaux,  in  Part  iii.  of  hia 
Univerfal  Hillory,    gives  us  a   v/oaderful  defcription  of  tlii: 

"H  2 


90  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

'  ed  by  tlie  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  world;  extremely 

*  given  to  tlie  fearth  of  fciences,  and  contemplation 
'  of  the  heavens.^     It  was  be  who  was  the  firft  in- 

*  vcntorot  all  our  arts,  and  whatever  is  ufeful  for  the 
'  government  of  life  fprung  from  him.  Though  his 
'  grandfon  Thaothf  rather  excelled  him,  particular- 

juflicc*  and  pi»!ty  of  the  firft  Egyptians,  ■who  imd  fuch  a  hor- 
ror of  ihedding  man's  blood,  that  they  puniflud  their  crinji- 
iidls  'after  they  were  dead  ;  ^vhich  was  as  much  In  tcrorem^ 
confidering  their  fuperfliii.TJus  reverence  fir  their  dcceaftd 
friends  and  parents,  as  if  they  had  been  punilbed  when  alive. 
The  rt^afon  why  the  ancient  moral  Heathens  abhorred  t!i« 
fliedding  of  blood  might  be,  thn  Noah's  Tons  having  lived 
before  the  deluge,  knew  that  the  wickednefs  of  the  world 
vas  tlie  caufe  of  tliat  dic;-.dful  judgment  ;  and  fl.edding  of 
blood  being  tlie  full  crime  puniflied  by  God,  they  might  lake 
^valni^g  by  fuch  terrible  examples,  though  the  impiety  of 
fomc  n'utlons  Toon  obfcured  this  innate  light  of  nature,  par- 
ticularly the  defcendants  of  Ham  ;  all  but  this  Mifraim  ;  who, 
with  his  family,  by  all  accounts,  firfl  people  Egvpt;  and  they 
"were  noted  for  juflice  and  knowledge.  It  will  be  made  evi- 
dent in  the  fubfequent  remarks  that  thefe  Hickfoes  were  the- 
defendants  of  wicked  Chanaan,  or  Cufli,  who  deflroyed  the 
peaceable  ftute  of  the  fird  Egyptians,  and  introoluccd  idolatry 
among  tl.em  ;  wliich  made  great  nuu'hers  of  them  fly  into 
other  parts  of  the  world  to  fave  themftlves. 

•  The  fame  learned  Bifhop  of  Meaux,  and  otiier  hiflori- 
ans,  alTure  us,  as  it  is  a  thing  well  kn»wn  to  all  the  learned^ 
that  arts  and  fcienccs  were  brought  to  very  great  perfedion 
^n  the  carlicft  times  in  Egypt.  Mofes  was  inflru^Sled  in  the 
J'ciences  of  the  Egyptians.  Triptolemus,  the  founder  of 
ariiculture,  came  out  oi  Egypt.  Ricchus,  tlie  inventor  of 
vvii  e,  according  to  the  ancients,  came  out  of  Egypt,  or  L/ihya, 
wliich  borders  upon  it ;  though  it  was  full  learned  from  Noalu 
Pythagoras,  and  other  learned  men,  wenT  into  Egy])t  t»  be 
inllriKfted^by  ilic  priefts-  &c.  Herodotus  fays  the  fame  of 
liimfelf, 

t  This  Toaoth,  tV,e  famous  philofopher  of  the  Egyptians, 
•was  before  Mercury,  or  Trifmegiftus,  ;  though  fome  take  him 
to  be  the  fumct    AH  allow  him  to  U  extremely   ancient. 


OAUDENTIO    DI    LUCGA.  9I 

'  ly  in  the  mor^lublime  fciences.  Thus  our  ancel- 
'  tors  lived  four  hundred  years,  encreafing  and  Ipread- 
'  ing  over  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  abounding  with 
'  thebleffings  of  peace  and  knov<rledge ;  without  guile 
'  or  deceit,  neither  doing  or  fearing  harm  from  any; 
'  till  the  wicked  defcendants  of  the  other  men,  called 
'  Hickfoes*,  envying  their  happinefs  and  the  richnefs 

but  cannot  fix  the  time  when  he  lived.  Hlftorians  murder 
his  name  at  a  ftrange  rate.  Bochart  calls  him  Ta-autus,  lib. 
ii.cap.  12.  Clemens  Alex.  lib.  vi,  Strom,  fays,  he  wrote  xlii. 
books  of  aftrology,  geography,  phyfic,  policy,  theology,  re- 
ligion, and  government.  Jofeph  Ben  Gorion,  De  Divifione 
Gentium, calls  him  Tutis;  fome  call  him  Theut;  others  Teute, 
'I'aut,  Thoth,  &c.  But  according  to  this  man,  his  name  was 
Thaoth.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  he  was  the  great  maf- 
ter  of  the  Egyptians,  but  derived  liis  learning  from  Noah, 
who  might  have  the  knowledge  of  arts  and  fciences  from  the 
Antedelu  vian  world,  or  from  the  columns  of  Seth,  which 
Jofephus  fays,  contain  the  principles  of  aflrology,  and  were 
eredted  before  the  flood  by  the  nephews  of  Seth  ;  one  of  which 
columns,  as  he  fays,  remained  in  Syria  in  his  time.  'Jofepb, 
Ant*  lib.  il.  c.  2. 

*  The.  fame  Jofephus,  lib.  ii.  Contra    Appion,    fays,  that 

Hyckfoes,  or  Hycloes,  an  old  Egyptian  word,  figHifies King 

Shepherds,  or  King  of  BeaRs,  given  them  by  the  native 
Egyptians,  as  a  name  of  difgrace  and  contempt.  It  is  out 
of  all  controverfy  that  there  was  a  great  revolution  in  Egypt, 
about  four  hundred  years  after  the  flood,  or  a  little  before 
Abraham's  time.  Monfieur  Du  Pin  makes  the  time  from 
the  Hood  to  Abraham's  birth  three  hundred  and  fifty  years, 
and  about  four  hundred  to  his  being  called  by  God.  It  is 
certain  alfo,  there  were  kings  in  Egypt  in  Abraham's  time 
It  is  probable  thefe  kings  were  the  Hyckfoes  or  king  (hep- 
herds,  who  altered  the  guverment  of  the  ancient  Egyptians, 
ancl  continued  about  five  kings  reigns.  For  when  the  patri- 
arch Jofeph  called  his  father  and  brethren  into  Egvpt,  he 
bid  the  a*  afk  the  land  of  Gofhen  to  inhabit,  becaufe,  faid  he, 
all  fliepherds  are  an  abomination  to  the  Egyptians.  By  -vvhich 
it  appears  the  Ihepherds  were  lately  driven  out.    In  all  like- 


Q2  CALDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

*  of  their  country,  bi*okc  in  upon  them  like  a  torrent,  ' 
'  dcftroying  all  before  them,  and  taking  pofefTion  of 

'  that  bappy  plr.ce  our  anccftors  had  rendered  lb 
•flourifliing.     The  poor  innocent   Mezzoranians  ab- 

*  horrir.e;,  as  I  faid,  tlie  Ihedding  of  blood,  and  igno- 
'  rant    of    ail  violence,  were  llain  like  flieep  over  the 

*  country,  and  their  wives  and  daughters  violated 
'  before  their  eyes.  Thofe  their  mercilefs  enemy 
'  I'pared,  were  made  Haves  to  work  and  till  the  earth 
'  for  their  new  lords.' 

[Secretary,  Here  the  Inquifitors  interrupted  ])im, 
and  alked  him,  whether  he  thought  it  unlawful  in 
all  cafes  to  rtfifl  force  by  force,  or  whether  the 
law  of  nature  did  not  allow  the  Mezzoranians  to 
refill  tl.ofe  cruel  invaders  even  to  the  fliedding  of 
blood  J  as  alio  to  punilh  public  malefaclors  with 
death  for  the  prefervation  oF  the  whole.  Tlieir 
intent  was,  as  they  are  cautious  of  any  new  opi- 
nions, to  know  whether  he  might  not  be  a  Dogma- 
tizer,  and  advance  fome  erroneous  notions,  either 
by  holding  that  to  be  lawful^  which  was  not  fo  ^ 

lihood  ihefe  were  the  kings  who  introduced  idolatry  and  the 
adoration  of  brute  beads  among  the  Kg)aians,for  which  leafon 
they  called  them  in  derifion  king  JJjcpbcrds  or  h'i»g  beafts* 
— Thegicat  Bochart,  iw  hisPi)alcg.  looks  npon  this  levohuion 
in  Egypt  to  hava  been  before  Abraham's  time,  and  ^o  lar  from- 
beiu^  a  fK^ion,  that  he  fays  in  cxprefs  wortU — ^Ca/litcos  ^ 
C^iptborcsasj'  (whom  he  proves  to  be  the  people  ofColchog, 
for  all  it  is  fo  far  from  Egypt)  *  ex  ALgypto  7»igrajjc  cerPtivi  ejl 

*  ante  Abrabami  tciy/fora.     It  is  certain,'  lays  lie,  Mhat  the 

*  Cafluci  anclth.e  (^apthoia^i  went  out  of  Egypt  beloie  Abra- 

*  ham's  time.'  Bochart  PhjM.eg  .  lib.  iv,  c.  31.  He- 
rodotus in  Euterpe  fays,  that  the  people  of  Colclros  were 
originally  Egyptians;  though  fome  fay  they  weut  back  fome 
ages  after,  and  feftled  iii  ralelUne;  and  were  called  after 
that  Phili  nines. 


GAUDBNTIO    DI    LUCCA.  C)J 

or  denying  things  to  be  lawful,  which  really  might 
be  allowable  by  the  light  of  nature. 
^Gaudentio.  Doubtlefs  they  might  lawfully  have  re- 
filled, even  to  the  fiiedding  of  blood  in  that  cafe,  as 
public  criminals  maybe  put  to  death.  I  oaJv  ac- 
quaint your  Reverences  with  the  notions  peculiar  to 
thefe  people:  as  forthepunifhment  of  their  criminals, 
your  Reverences  will  fee,  when  I  come  to  their 
laws  and  cuftoms,  that  they  have  other  ways  and 
means  of  punilliing  crimes,  as  efTeclual  as  putting 
to  death  ;  though  living  entirely  within  themfelves, 
free  from  all  mixture  and  commerce  with  other 
people,  they  have  preferved  their  primitive  inno- 
cence  in  that  refpe^l  to  a  very  great  degree. 
Inquisitor.      Go  on.] 

The  Pophar  continuing  his  relation,  added :  '  But 
what  was  moll  intolerable,  was  that  thofe  impious 
Hickfoes  forced  them  to  adore  men  and  beads,  and 
even  infects  for  gods  :  nay,  and  Ibme  to  fee  their 
children  offered  in  facrifice  to  thofe  inhuman  dei* 
tiesf .  This  dreadful  inundation  fell  at  firO;  only  on 
tlie  lower  part  of  Egypt,  which  was  then  the  moft 
flouri(hing.  As  many  of  the  didreffed  inhabitants 
as  could  efcape  their  cruel  hands,  fled  to  the  upper 
parts  of  the  country,  in  hopes  to  find  there  fome 
little  refpite  from  their  misfortune.  But  alas  !  what 
could  they  do  ?  they  knew  no  u  fe  of  arms  :  neither 
would  their  laws  fuffer  them  to  deflroy  their  own 
fpecies  ;  (o  that  they  expected  every  hour  to  be  de- 
voured by  their  cruel  enemies.  The  heads  of  the 
families  in  fuch  diftrefs  were  divided  in  their  coun- 
fels,  or  rather  they  had  no  counfel  to  follow :  fome 
of  them  fled  into  the  neighbouring  defarts,  which 

t  Thefe  Hyckfoes  being  in  all  appearance  the  defcendanis 
of  wicked  Cliaiiaan  or  (^ufh,  were  fo  abominably  impious,  as 
to  facrifice  human  victims  and  chilJrea  to  their  falfc  gods  ; 
Biid  even  were  the  flrft  authors  of  all  impiety  and  idolatry. 


94  CAVDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

you  have  leen  arc  very  dilmal,  an  both  fuk'S    the 
upper  part  of  llial  k:ni];(Jom ;  tlicv  were  dirperfed 
like  .1   flock  of  fhcep    I'cattercd    by  the    ravenous 
wolves.     The  conftcrnation  was  fo  great,  that  they 
wcrerefclved  to  fly  lo  the  fartheft  parts  of  thecarth, 
ratlicr  than  fall   into  the  hands  of  thofe  inhuman 
moniUrs.     The   greatell  part  of  them  agieed  to 
bijild  fhips,  and  try  ihcir  fortune  by  lea.  Our  great 
father  Alezzoraini  had  taught  them  the  art  of  mak- 
ing boats^,  to  crols  th'e  branches    of  the  Great 
River  [  Nile  ;]  which  fome  faid  he  liad  learned  by 
being  prefer\'ed  in  I'uch  a  i  hing  from  a  terrible  flood 
that  over-flowed  all  the  landj.  Which  inflrument  of 
their  prefervation  they  fo  improved  afterwards,  that 
they  could  crofs  tlie  LelTcr  SeaJ  without  any  dlflicul- 
ty.     This  being  relolved  on,  they  could  not  agree 
where  to  go  :  fome  wifliedto  goby  one  fea,  fome  by 
the  other,  However,thcy  fot  till  hands  to  work, fo  that 
inayear'stime  they  hadbuilt  a  vaftnumberof  veffels  ; 
trying  them  backwards  and  forward  along  the  coafts, 
mending  what  wfvs  deficient,  &  improving  what  they 

V 

*  It  is  highly  probable  the  Egyptians  had  the  knowledge  of 
flnpping  long  before  the  G»«tks,  whofe  firfl  II. ip  wrs  Arg0, 
built  by  Jafoii  to  bring  tlie  g'klen  fleece  fiom  (Choices.  The 
fiift  notion  of  liiipping  was  undoubtedly  taken  from  the  ark  ; 
the  Kgyptiuns  were  necellitattd  to  nrake  ufe  «f  boats,  by 
reafon  of  the  annual  overflowing  of  the  Nile;  and  to  pal's 
the  different  branches  into  which  that  famous  river  divides 
itfelf  in  the  Lovser  Egypt.  Tlie  Sidonians,  whom  Bcchart 
proves  to  be  the  defcendsnts  of  Canaan,  had  the  ufe  oi  (hip- 
ping, as  he  alfo  proves,  bdorc  the  childen  of  Hiael  departed 
out  of  Egypt. 

t  In  all  appearance  this  mufl  have  been  Noah's  flood, 
which  'tis  much  Signor  Rhcdi  pafies  over  in  his  remarks. 

4  Egypt  is  bounded  on  one  fide  by  the  end  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean ;  on  the  other  ftde  by  the  Red  Sea,  dividing  it  from 
Arabia:  this  he  calls  the  LefTtr  Sea,  as  btiug  much  narrower 
than  the  Mediterranean. 


CAUDKNTIO    DI    LUCCA.  g^ 

imagined  might  be  for  their  greater  fecurity.  They 
thought  now,  or  at  leaH:  their  eagenieis  toavoidthcir 
enemies  made  them  think  they  could  go  with  fafe- 
ty  all  over  the  main  fea.  As  our  anceftors  had 
chiefly  given  themfelves  to  the  ftudy  of  arts  and 
fciences,  and  the  knowledge  of  nature,  they  were 
the  moll  capable  of  fuch  enterprizes  of  any  people  in 
the  world.  But  the  apprehenfion  of  all  that  was 
miferable  being  jufl:  frelli  before  their  eyes,  quicken- 
ed their  induftry  to  fuch  a  degree,  that  none  but  men 
in  the  like  circumdanees  can  have  a  jufl;  idea  of. 
Moft  of  thefe  men  were  thofe  wliohad  fled  in  crowds 
from. Lower  Egypt.  The  natural  inhabitants  of 
the  upper  parts,  though  they  were  in  very  great 
confternation,  and  built  (liips  as  fad  as  they  could, 
yet  their  fears  were  not  fo  immediate,  elpeciallv 
feeing  the  Hickfoes  remained  yet  quiet  in  their  new 
poiTeiiioiis.  But  news  being  brought  them,  that  the 
Hickfoes  began  to  llir  again,  more  fwarms  of  their 
cruel  brood  (lill  flocking  into  that  rich  country, 
they  refolvednow  to  delay  the  time  no  longer,  but 
to  commit  themfelves,  wives  and  children,  with  all 
that  was  moll  dear  and  precious,  to  the  mercy  of 
that  inconfiant  element,  rather  than  trufl:  to  the 
barbarity  of  their  own  fpecies.  They  who  came 
out  of  the  Lower  Egypt  v/ere  refolved  to  crofs  the 
Great  Sea'^,  and  with  immeufe  labour  were  forced 

•  This  Great  Sea,  as  diOinguirhed  from  the  Lefs,  mufl  be 
the  Mediterranean.  Thofe  w!io  fied  by  thnr  fea,  miift  be 
thofe  who  went  to  (^olchos;  they  could  not  go  by  land  over 
the  iftlinui-,  becaufe  the  Hickfoes  poured  in  upon  tiiem  that 
%vay :  we  mufl  not  fuppofe  they  went  all  the  way  by  fea  to 
Colciios,  quite  round  by  the  5treights  of  the  Helefpont. 
Tliey  mufl  crofs  the  end  of  the  Mediterranean,  and  go  by 
land  the  fliorteli  way  they  coald,  till  they  cams  to  the  bor- 
ders of  the  Euxine  Sea.  It  is  alrHofl  incredible  men  fliould 
go  fo  far  to  feek  an  habitation.    ,But  Bochart  fays,  it  is  cer- 


$6 


CAUDEKTIO    DI    LUCCA. 


to  carry  tlicir  materials  partly  bv  land,  till  they  came 
to  the  outcrmoll  brar.cli  of  the  Nile,  fmce  their  «nc- 
mics  coming  over  the  Illhmus,  though  they  hinder- 
ed them  from  going  out  of  their  country  by  land, 
bnltl's  by  the  dci'arts,  yet  had  not  taken  polfcirion 
of  that  i^art  of  the  countr)'.  It  is  necdlefs  to  re- 
count their  cries  and  lamentations  at  their  leaving 
ihtir  dear  country.  I  fliall  only  tell  you,  that  they 
v<?ntured  into  the  C»reat  Sea,  which  they  crolled, 
and  never  flopped  till  they  came  to  another  fea*,  on 
the  fides  of  which  they  fixed  their  habitation,  that 
tlicv  migl'.t  go  oir  again  in  cafe  they  were  purfued. 
'I'liis  we  learnt  from  tlie  acoount  of  our  anceftors 
who  met  with  lome  of  them  that  came  to  viiit  the 
tombs  of  their  dcceafed  parents,  as  we  do  ;  but  it  is 
an   immenfe  time  fincc,   and  we  never  heard  any 

tain  tl.e  people  of  Coklics  came  cut  of  Egypt ;  they  miiQ 
tlifrefore  lave  been  diiven  cut  by  i'cme  terrible  enemies. 
You  may  lay,  why  may  not  this  lirfl  revolution  in  Egyi>t, 
■\sliicli  Bocbart  fptaks  of,  have  been  made  by  the  great  ^e- 
miraniis,  ^^ife  to  Nir.us,  the  fon  of  Niinrod  ?  It  isnnfwer- 
ed,  in  the  fiift  jjhce,  becaufe  Jcfcphus  calls  the  fir  ft  invad- 
ers of  Fj^ypt,  Ling  J1:cjfberdsy  which  cannot  agree  with  the 
great  heroine  Scmirajnis.  adly,  Becaufe  it  is  not  credible, 
rotwlihllundin;*  the  contrary  opinion  of  moll  iiiftorians,  that 
Ninus,  tlie  liuHjand  of  Semirnmis,  could  be  fo  early  as  they 
make  him  to  be,  i.  e.  the  fon  of  Nlmrotl,  but  Ionic  other 
Ninus,  long  after  him.  For  though  Semiramis  conquered 
Egypt,  and  afterwards lod  her  army  againft  the  ^uhiopians, 
this  could  not  be  fo  fuon  alter  the  fioi^d  ;  becaufe  hlllorians 
defcribe  that  army  to  confill  of  three  hundred  thoufand  men 
jnftrui^ed  in  difcipline  after  a  military  manner,  armed  with 
warlike  chariots,  &c.  as  were  tlie  yEihiepians  agijnfl  her, 
and  even  fuperior  to  her.  I  fay,  it  is  n(;t  credible  fiich  great 
armies  could  be  raifed  fo  foon  after  tlie  flood,  if  (he  was 
daughter-in-law  to  Nimrod  the  great  hunter,  who  was  \\^ 
ion  of  Cu(h,  and  great  grandfon  to  Noah. 

•  i.  e.  The  Euxuie  Sea. 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  9^ 

<  more  of  them.  The  other  part,  who  were  much 
*  the  greater  number,  went  down  the  Lcfler  Sea^, 
'  having  built  their  fliips  on  that  fea ;  >they  never 
'  flopped  or  touched  on  either  fide,  till  they  came  to 
'  a  narrow  part  of  itf ,  which  led  them  into  the  vaft 

<  ocean,  there  they  turned  off  to  the  left  into  the  Eart- 
-<  ern  SeaJ.    But  whether  they  were  Iwallowed  up  in 

•  I.  e.  The  Red  Sea.  There  were  feveral  other  revolu- 
tions in  Egypt,  as,  by  the  -Sthopians,  after  Semiramis  Avas 
•conquered;  who  were  expelled  again,  either  by  the  great 
Sefolhns,  of  whom  Herodotus  relates  fuch  famous  exploit?  ; 
or  a  little  before  by  his  predecefibr.  The  Chanaanites 
alfo,  who  were  driven  out  of  Paleftine  by  Jofluia,  con- 
quered part  of  it.  as  we  fhall  fee  afterwards.  Long  after 
that,  it  was  fubdued  by  Nabacodonofor,  who  deflroyed  the 
renowned  city  of  'I'hebes,  with  her  hundred  gates.  Bocbart 
in  Ninwe,  Then  the  Perfians,  under  Ganibyfes,  the  fon  of 
Cyru3  the  Great.  In  fine,  the  Romans  made  a  province  of 
-it  in  AugufiiHs's  time.  Strabo  fays  of  that  famous  city  of 
Thebes—"  At  prefent  it  is  but  a  poor  village." 

Atque  'vetus  Tbehe  centum  jacet  ohtnita  tioriis* 

Juven.  Sat.  15. 

t  This  mufl  be  the  Strcights  of  Babelmandel,  which  let 
them  into  the  vaf;  Eaftern  Ocean. 

\  It  is  likely  that  colony  was  carried  to  Qiina  ;  for,  let 
what  will  come  of  this  man's  relations,  there  are  very  ftron^^ 
reafons  to  believe,  that  the  Ghinefe,  notwithflanding  the  vaft 
dlllance  from  Egypt,  came  urigiiially  from  thnt  country, 
about  the  time  of  the  invafion  of  the  king  JJjepbcrdsy  which 
was  before  Jacob  and  his  fons  went  into  the  land  of  Egypt. 
For  whoever  compares  the  account  given  by  the  learned  Bi- 
fiiop  of  Meaux,  in  the  third  part  of  his  Univerfal  Hiltorv, 
of  the  lives  and  maimers  of  the  firft  Egyptians,  whith  thole 
of  the  Ghinefe,  will  find  them  to  agree  in  a  great  many 
points.  As  I  ft,  their  boafted  antiquity  :  2dly,  their  fo  early 
knowledge  of  arts  and  fciences  :  ^dly,  their  veneration  for 
learned  men,  who  have  the  preference  before  others :  4thly, 


^8  CAUDEKTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

*  the  n'icixilcfs  abyfs,  or  carried  into  Ibmc  unknown 
'  regions,  we  cannot  tell,  for  they  were  never  heard 

*  of  more.  Only  of  late  years,  wc  have  hcaid  talk 
'  at  (»rand  (i:iiro,  of  a  very  r.umerous  aiid  civilized 
'  nation  in  the  caftern  parts  of  the  world,  uholelaws 

*  and  cufboms  have    feme  refemblance  to  ours  ;    but 

*  who,  and  what  they  are,  wc  cannot  tcll,nnce  we 

*  have  never  met  witli  any  of  them. 

*  The  father  of  our  nation,  fmcc,  we  feparatcd  cur- 

*  felves  from  the  reft  of  the  world,  who  was  ipviciX  of 

their  policy  :  5tbly,  their  unaccountable  fiipcrnition  for  their 
deceafcd  parents:  6thly,  thtir  annii..!  viHting  tlie  family  of 
their  ancfftors :  ytlilv,  tlicir  peaceable  difpofidor.s :  Sthly, 
their  religious  worfliip.  As  for  this  laft,  it  is  well  known 
the  fiift  Egypiians  worlbippcd  ihefiin,  long  beToic  tlie  gods 
Apis  and  Ifis,  and  Anv.bis,  were  introduced  ainong  them,  by 
their  idolatrous  invaders.  And  the  Chinereto  this  day,  wcr- 
1})ip  lite  vuiterial  heaven^  as  is  feen  in  the  coiidcnM^ation  cf 
the  Jefults  by  Clem.  XI.  Lalily,  the  ufe  of  Pyramids  in 
£gypl,  which  were  like  ancient  idols  among  the  Chinefe. 
See  the  account  of  them*  in  Moreri-j-.  llie  only  dliliculty 
is  to  know  how  they  got  from  Egypt  to  China,  which  is  not 
fo  infupportable  as' people  may  imagine,  it  is  certain,  the 
Eo-vptians,  as  has  been  remarked,  had  a  very  early  know- 
ledge of  navigation.  It  is  certain,  alfe,  that  in  thcfe  bar- 
barous invafions,  the  invaders  of  kirgdoms  almcft  ceflroyed 
all  before  them,  '^ince  we  find  therefore  in  the  moR  ancient 
liiliories,  that  there  was  a  mott  terrible  revolution  in  Egypt, 
abeut  that  time  made  by  the  people,  wliofe  cuftoms  the 
Egyptian?  had  in  al  oniinaiic-n,  the  Chinefe  might  feek  their 
fortune  by  fca,  and  might  be  canied  beyond  the  Perfian 
Gnli)h,  till  they  came  to  Cochin  China,  from  MJ-.ence  they 
jiii^ht  get  into  the  main  continent,  and  fo  people  that  vaft 
empire  ;  preferving  their  ancient  laws  and  cuf.^cms  inviola- 
ble. So  that,  whatever  becomes  of  tliis  man's  relation,  it 
is  extremely  probable  the  Chinefe  came  firlt  from  Eg;  pt, 

•  i.  e.  Pyramids.  +  Editio  Glerici. 


CAUDENTIO    DT    LUCCA.  99' 

the  Sun  at  No-om*,  (called  afterwards  by  thofe 
miicreants  No-Ammonf ,  becaufe  of  the  temple  of 
Hammon)  was  not  alle'ep  in  this  general  conftenia- 
tion  ;  but  did  not  as  yet  think  they  would  come  up 
To  high  into  the  land.  However,  he  thouglit  pro- 
per to  look  out  for  a  place  to  fecure  himielf  and 
family  in  cafe  of  need.  He  was  the  defcendant,  in 
a  dirc£l  line,  from  the  great  Tha-oth  ;  and  was  per* 

*  No-om,  or  No-on,  fignifies  In  the  old  Mezzoranian,  or 
old  Egyptian  language,  the  Houie  of  the  Sun.  Their  words 
are  made  up  of  monofyllahles  put  together  like  the  Chlnefe, 
wliich  is  another  reafon  wliy  the  Chinefe  ought  to  be  looked 
upon  as  a  colony  of  ^Egyptians.     Vide  the  remarks  of  the 

foregoing  part  of  tliis  relation. fhe  patriarch  Jofeph 

married  the  daughter  of  the  prieit  of  On  ;  which  ieveral 
learned  men  fay,  is  the  fame  with  Heiiopolis,  or  the  City 

of  the   Sun. From  No  comes  the  Egyptian  Nomcs,  of 

divifions  of  the  country,  which  the  great  Bochart,  in  his  Pha- 
leg.  fays  is  an  Egyptian,  not  a  Grei^k  word,  though  Dynajiy 
is  Greek.  Bochart.  lib.  iv.  c.  24.  Hence  very  likely 
came  the  Nomades  or  Fumidae,  from  their  wandering,  and 
frequently  changing  their  liabitatioti,  or  names  ;  the  firft  and 
molt  ancient  of  all  nations  li^ed  thus. 

t  That  is  the  houfe  or  temple  of  Ham,  or  Flammon ;  or 
Charnoon  or  Chum,  as  Bochait  varies  it.  This  Ham  was 
the  Tyrian  Jupiter,  and  in  tliis  place  was  afterwards  lituated 
the  great  city  of  Thebes,  as  has  been  before  obferved,  called 
by  the  Greeks  Diofpolis,  or  the  city  of  Jupiter.  Cadmus, 
■who  was  oF Thebes  in  Paleftine,  being  driven  out  from  thence 
by  Jofhua,  built  it ;  but  was  driven  out  from  it,  and  forced 
to  retire  to  Tyre,  from  whence  he  conduced  a  colony  ©f 
Tyiians,  or  banlflied  Chanaanitss,  intoBceotia,  were  he  built 
Thebes  aUb,  or  rather  the  citadel  of  Thebes,  called  Cadmeia. 
Vide  Bochart,  in  Cadmus  and  Hermione.  Which  laft,  the 
fame  author  fays,  came  originally  from  Mount  Hermon  in 
Paleltine  ;  and  as  that  word  in  the  Chananean  language  fig- 
nifies -a  Serpent,  from  hence  arofe  the  fable  of  the  ferpent's 
teeth  turning  into  men.  The  temple  of  Jupiter- Amman,  or 
Hammon,  in  Africa,  was  built  by  the  Chinani,  who  fpread 
thcmfelves    irom  Egypt  into  Libya. 


100  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA^ 

fcctly  vcrfccl  in  all  the  learned  fciences  of  his  an-' 
ceftors.  He  gucdcd  there  niuft  certainly  be  Ibme 
habitable  country  beyond  thole  dreadful  lands  thatr 
furroundcd  him,  if  he  could  but  find  a  way  to  it, 
A'here  lie  might  fccure  himfcif  and  family  ;  at  leafl, 
till  thofe  troubles  were  over  :  for  he  did  not  at  that 
time  think  of  leaving  his  native  country  lor  good 
and  all.  But  like  a  true  father  of  his  people,  whiclr 
the  name  of  Pophar  implies,  he  was  relblvcd  to  ven- 
tui^  his  own  life,  rather  than  expoie  his  whole  fa- 
mily to  be  loll  in  thole  difmal  deiarts.  He  had  hvc 
fons  and  five  daughters  married  to  as  many  Ions  and 
daugliters  of  his  deceafed  brother^.  His  two  eldeil 
fons  had  even  grand- children,  but  his  two  youngeft 
fons  as  then  liad  no  children.  He  left  the  govern- 
ment anj  care  of  all  to  his  eldeft  fon,  in  cafe  lie  him- 
felf  fliould  mil'carry  ;  and  took  his  two  youngeft  fons^ 
who  might  beftbe  Ipared,  along  with  him.  Having 
j)rovkled  themfclves  with  water  for  ten  days,  with 
bread  and  dried  fruits,  juft  enough  to  fublift  on,  he 
was  relolved  to  try  five  days  journey  endways 
tlirough  thefe  lands,  and  if  he  law  no  hopes  of  mak- 
ing a  difqovery  in  that  time,  to  return  again  before 
liis  provifions  wei'e  fpent,  and  then  try  the  fame 
mdhixl  towards  another  quarter.  In  fliort,  he  fat 
out  with  all  ilcrccy,  and  pointing  his  courfc  dire«ftly. 

•  wellvvard  the  better  to  guide   himfelf,  he  came  to 

*  liie  firft  grove  that  we  arrived  at,  in  a  little  mora 

•  It  is  certain  tliat  the  Jincicnls,  more  particularly  the 
Eallcrn  nations,  married  their  nigh  relations,  as  well  as  the 
Jews,  to  keep  up  their  names  or  tril)es  ;  l)ut  we  don't  find 
111  liiilory  tliat  tlicy  married  their  own  fillers,  till  the  Perfian 
king?,  who  w«re  condemned  for  it  by  the  Greeks.  The 
Egyptians  under  the  Ptolomics  followed  tiiat  barbarous  cnf- 
tom,  though  they  begun  with  Ptolomy  Lagus,  one  of  tlie  cap- 
tains of  Alexander  ;  the  Yncas  in  America  did  the  fame,  not- 
to  prophane  their  blood,  as  they  faid,  with  other  mixtures. 


GAUDENTrO    Df    LUCCA.  lOI 

time  than  we  took  up  in  coming  thither.  Having 
now  time  enough  before  him,  and  ieeing  there  was 
water  and  fruits  in  abundance,  he  examined  the 
extent  of  that  delicious  vale  j  he  found  it  was  large 
en6ugh  to  fubfift  a  great  many  thoufands,  in  cafe 
they  Ihould  increafe  and  be  forced  to  ftay  there 
fome  generations,  as  in  efFe£l  they  did.  After  this, 
he  laid  in  proviiions  as  before,  with  dates  and  fruits 
of  the  natural  produce  of  thf  earth,  finer  than  ever 
were  feen  in  Egypt,  to  encourage  them  in  their 
tranfmigration,  and  fo  fet  out  again  for  his  native 
country.  The  time  prefixed  for  his  return  waa 
elapfed  by  his  [lay  in  viewing  the  countt-y  ;  fo  that 
his  people  had  entirely  given  him  for  lolt.  But  the 
joy  for  his  unexpected  return,  with  the  promifing 
hopes  of  fuch  a  lafe  and  happy  retreat,  made  tliem 
unanimoutly  refolve  to  follow  him.  Wlierefore,  on 
the  firft  news  of  the  Hickfoes  being  in  motion  again, 
they  packed  up  all  their  efFedls  and  provifions  as 
privately  as  they  could ;  but  particularly  all  the 
monuments  of  arts  and  fcisnces  left  by  their  ancef- 
tors',  with  notes  and  obfervations  of  every  part  q£ 
iheir  dear  country,  which  they  were  going  to  leave, 
but  hoped  to  fee  again  when  the  ftorm  was  over. 
They  arrived  without  any  confiderable  difafter,  and 
refolved  only  to  live  in  tents  till  they  could  re- 
turn to  their  native  homes.  As  they  encreafed 
in  number,  they  defcended  further  into  the  vale, 
which  there  began  to  fpread  itfelf  different  ways,and 
fupplied  them  with  all  the  neceflaries  and  convenien- 
cies  of  life  ;  fo  that  they  lived  in  the  happieft  baniQi- 
ment  they  could  wifli ;  never  ftirring  out  of  the  vale 
for  feveral  years,  for  fear  of  being  diicovered.  The 
Pophar  finding  himfelf  grow  old,  (having  attained 
almoft  two  hundred  years  of  age*)  though  he  was 

*  The  regular  lives  of  the  firft  Egyptians,  and  of  thofe 
people  delcended  from  tiiem  ;  together  with  the  cliiJQ^itej 

X  a 


102  6AUDENTI0    DI    LUCCA 

liale  and  ftrong  for  liis  years,  refolved  to  vifit  his 
native  country  once  more    before  he  died,  and  get 

*  what  intelligence  he  could  for  the  common  interelh 

*  Accordingly,  he  and  two  more  difguifed  themfelves, 
and  rtpafl'cd  the  dc farts  again.  They  juft  ventured 
at  fir  (I  into  the  borders  of  the  country;  but  alas  I 
when  became  there,  he  foutiditall  over-run  by  the 
barbarous  Hickfoes.  All  the  poor  remains  of  the 
Mczzoranians  vi^ere  made  flavcs  ;  and  thofe  barba- 
rians, had  began  to  build  habitations,  and  eftablilli 

'  thcmfelves,  as  if  they  defigned   never  more  to  de- 

*  part  the  country.     'I'hey  had  made  No-om  one  of 
'  their  chief  towns|,  where  they  erected  a  temple  to 

*  their  Ram-GodJ,  callhig  it   No-IIammon  (|,   with 

*  fuch  inhumiin  laws  and  cruelties,  as  drew  a  flood  of* 

their  diet  of  fruits  and  liquors,  their  exemption  from  violent 
pillions,  without  being  corrupted  by  the  Ipurious  fpawn  of* 
other  nations,  and  the  like,  niight  contribute  very  much  to 
tlie  length  of  their  lives,  and  (trength  propovtionably.  The 
M'.tcrobii,  or  Long-livers,  a  people  of  j£thiopla,  and  a  colony- 
of  the  ancient  Egyptians,  lived  to  a  vail  age,  and  were  called- 
Macrobii,  from  their  long  lives.  See  Herodotus  of  the 
Ethiopians  ;  and  what  he  fays  of  their  (Irength  in  tlie  bow  ;. 
c^ic  of  which  they  fent  to  Gauibyfes,  when  hr  had  denounced 
war  againfl  them  ;  faying,  that  when  he  could  bend  that  bowi, 
he  might  m:ike  war  againfl  them  ;  which  bow  only  Smerdis^ 
Camb)  fes's  brother,  could  bend,  and  for  that  reafon  was  af- 
terwards  put  to  death  by  his  brother  out  of  envy. 

t  It  feems  Thebes,  though  afterwards  fuch  a  prodlgloiii 
ticy^  was  then  kut  the  head  of  the  name  of  that  man's  fami- 

4  Jupiter  Hammon,  whom  Bockart  proves  to  have  been 
Ham  or  Cham,  the  fon  of  Noah,  was  reprefented  with  a 
XA\Y\'s  head,  which  was  held  in  fuch  abomination  by  the  firfl 
Ep^vptians,  from  whence  they  called,  thofe  firft  invaders 
JHickfoes*. 

I  Xo-Haf\}nioii3  tiic  houfe  of  the  Ram-Gcd.. 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  lOJ 

*  tears  from  his  aged  eyes^.  However,  being  a  man 
'  of  great  prudence  and  ?orefight,he  eafily  iraagined,by 
'  their  tyrannical  way  of  living,  they  could  not  con- 

*  tinue  long  in  that  ftate  without  fome  new  revolution. 
'  After  making  what  obfervations  he  could,  and  vilit- 
'  ing  the  tombs  of  his  fore-fathers,  he  returned  to 
t  the  vale,  and  died  in  that  place  where  you    faw  the 

<  pyran\id  built  to  his  memory.  Not  many  generali- ' 
i  ons  after,  according  as  he  had  forefeen,  the  natives, 

*  made  defperate  by  the  tyrannical  oppreflions  of  the  ' 
i  Hickfoes,  were  forced  to  break  in  upon  their  pri-^ 
'  mitive  laws,  which  forbade  them  to   flied  blood; 

'  made  a  general    infurreclion  ;  and,  calling  in  their"" 

*  neighbours  around  them,  fell  upon  theHickfoes  when ' 

*  they  leail  expe£led  it,  and  drove  them  out  of  the" 

*  country.     They  were  headed  by  a  brave  man  of  the ^ 

*  mixt  race,  his  mother  being  a  beautiful  Mezzorani- 

*  an,  and  his  father  a  Sabsean."^"  After  the  young  con- 
'  queror  had  driven  out  the  Htckloea,   he  eflablifhed' 

*  a  new  form  of  government,  making  himfelf  king  o-' 

*  ver  his  brethren,  (but  not  after  the  tyrannical  man^- 
'  ner  of  the  Hickfoes)  and  grew  very   powerful.— 

\  It  is  likely  he  means  Bufiridis  Aras,  fo  infamous  in  anti- 
quity ;  or  the  cruel  Bufiiis,  whofacriHeed  his  guefts,  Thougli^ 
hiflorians  don't  agree  about  the  time  when  Bufiiis  lived^ 
Avhich  (hews  he  was  very  ancient,  yet  all  agiee,  he  was  a 
monfler  of  cruelty,  and  became  a  proverb  on  that  account*. 
This  was  a  very  natural  reafon  for  the  Egyptians  todifperfe 
themfelves  into  fo  many  colonies  as  they  did,  to  avoid  fuch 
cruelties. 

*  Thefe  Sabasans  were  the  dcfcendants  of  fome  of  tlie 
fons  of  Ghufh,  or  Ghufs,  a  very  tall  race  of  men,  great  ne- 
gociators,  and  more  polite  than  the  othfr  Arabians.  Bo- 
chart,  in  Seba  filio  Cluis,  where  he  quotes  a  paiTage  out  ol 
Agatharcides  of  the  handfomenefs  of  the  Sabacans— — 

*  Tiie  bodies  of  the  inhabitants  [the  Sabaans]  are  more 
juajellic  thaii  other  men,' 


I04  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

Our  anceflors  fent  perfons  from  time  to  time  to  in- 
form thcmfclvcs  how  matters  went.  They  found 
the  kingdom  in  a  flourifliing  condition,  indeed,  un- 
der the  conquering  Sofs,f  for  fo  he  was  called. — 
He  and  his  kicccnois  made  it  one ot  the  raoft  ^o\v- 
erful  kingdoms  of  the  earth  ;  but  the  laws  were  dif- 
ferent from  what  they  had  been  in  the  time  of  our 
anccilors,  or  even  from  thofe  the  gr,eat  oofs  had  ef- 
tablidicd.  Some  of  his  iuceffors  began  to  be  very 
tyrannical  ;  they  made  flaves  of  tlieir  brothers,  and 
invented  a  new  religion  ;  fome  adoring  the  fun,  fome 
the  gods  of  tlie  Hickfoes  ;  io  that  ouranccftors,  as 
they  could  not  think  of  altering  their  laws,  though 
they  might  have  returned  again,  chofe  rather  to 
continue  Hill  unknown  in  that  vale,  under  their  pa- 
triarchical  government.  Neverthelefs,  in  procefs 
of  time,  they  increafcd  fo  much,  that  the  country 
was  not  capable  of  maintaining  ihem  ;  fo  that  they 
had  been  obliged  to  return,  liad  not  another  revolu- 
tion in  Egypt  forced  them  to  feek  out  a  new  habita- 
tion. This  change  was  made  by  a  race  of  people 
called  ChanimJ,as  wicked  and  barbarous  in  efTedjbuL 

f  This  muflbe  the  great  Sefoflrls  or  Sefofis,  of  wliomthe 
learned  Bifhop  of  Meaux,  as  alio  Herodotus,  fays  fuch  glo- 
rious tilings.  Though  authors  do  not  fay  preciiely  when  he 
lived,  all  acknowledge  him  to  have  flourilhcd  in  the  earlieft 
times.  He  extended  iiis  conquefts  over  the  grcateft  part  of 
the  Eafl,  and  almoft  over  the  known  world,  as  fome  fay. 
Where  his  enemies  were  cowards,  and  made  noreRUanee,  he 
let  up  flatues  of  them  refembling  women.  Herodot.  Lib.  ii, 
i'uterpe.  Monf,  de  Menux.  Par.  ill.  Hill.  Univ.  This  great 
conqueror's  name  is  very  much  varied  by  authors. 

\  1  liefe  in  all  appearance  were  the  wicked  Chananeans, 
■who  being  to  be  deftroyed,  and  being  driven  outof  Ghanaan 
by  Jofliua,  difperfed  themfelves,  and  invaded  the  greateft 
part  of  the  countries  round  about  tbem.  Bochait  in  Cha- 
naan,  proves  almof\  dcmonftrably,  that  they  difperfed  them- 
felves over  all  the  iflauds  and  fea-ports  of  Europe,  Afia,  and 


CAXJDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  lOjT 

*  more  politic,  than  the  Hickfoes  j  though  fome  faid 

*  they  were  originally  the  fame  people,w]io  being  driv- 
'  en  out  of  tlieir  own  country  by  others  more  powerful 
'  than  themfelves,  came  pouring  in,  not  only  over  all 
'  the  land  of  Mezzoraim,  but  all  along  the  coafts  of 
'  both  feas,  deftroying  all  before  them,  with  greater 
'  abominations  than  the  Hickfoes  had  ever  been  guil- 
'  ty  of :  in  fliort,  a  faithlefs  and  moft  perfidious  race 

*  of  men,  that  corrupted  the  innocent  manners^  of 
*>  the  whole  earth.     Our  forefathers  were  in  the  moil 

*>  dreadful  confternation  imaginable.     There  was  now  ' 
'  noprofpe6l   of    ever  retm-ning  into  their  ancient 
^  country.     They  were  furrounded  with   defarts  on 
^  all  fides.     The  place  they  were  in  began  to  be  too 
'  narrow  for  fo  many  thouiands  as  they  were  increaf- 

Africa.  In  his  preface  he  quotes  a  mod  curious  paffage  out 
of  Procopius  De  Bello  Vandelico,  of  a  pillar  that  was  found 
in  Africa,  with  a  Plienlcian  or  Chananean  infcriptioH,  which 
fignlfies    ■  I- 

"  We  are  thofe  who  fled  from  the  face  of  Jefus,  or  Jo» 
fbua  the  robber,  the  fonofNave."  Eufebius,  in  Chronico, 
has  much  the  fame  ;  and  St.  Auflin,  in  his  City  of  God,  fays, 
that  the  ancient  country  people  about  Hippo  in  Africa,  who- 
were  the  remains  of  the  ancient  Carthaginians,  if  you  afked 
them  who  they  were,  would  anfvver— —- ."  We  are  origin- 
ally Chanani,  or  Chananeans." 

•  The  celebrated  Bochart,  fo  often  quoted,  proves  that 
the  Phoenicians  or  Carthaginians,  whom  he  alfo  proves  to 
have  been  Chananeans,  were  the  pcrfons  who  fpread  idola- 
try, with  all  the  tribe  of  the  Heathen  gods,  and  their  abo- 
minable rites,  over  the  whole  world.  Bochart  in  Ghana'' 
an.  The  fame  author  fays,  the  Phoenicians,  or  Chanani, 
invaded  Egypt  about  that  very  time.  This  he  proves  di- 
re(flly :  and  that  they  had  their  Caflia  about  Memphis  ;  as 
alfo  that  Cadmus  and  Phenix,  wh(im  he  makes  contempo- 
raries with  Jolhua,  having  fled  before  him,  came  out  of 
Egypt  afterwards,  and  built  Thebes  in  Boeotia.  See  alfo 
Herodotus  in  Eutrepe, 


Io6  GAUDENTIO    DI     LUCCA. 

cd  to  :  nay,  they  did  not  know  but  the  wicked  Clia- 
nim,  wliowere  at  tlie  fame  time  the  boldeft  and 
mod  tnterprizini;  nation  under  the  fun.f  might  find 
them  out  lumc  time  or  other.     Being  in  this  dillrefs, 
they  rcfolved  to  feck  out  a  new  habitation  ;  and,  to 
that  end,  compared  all  the  notes  and  obicrvations  on 
the  heavens,  the  couri'e  of  the  fun,  the  feufons    and 
nature  of  the  climate,  and  whatever  clfc  might   di- 
I'iitl  them  what  courfe  to  fteer.     They  did  not  doubt 
but  that  tliere  might  be  fome  habitable    countries' 
in  the  midll  of  the  vaft  delarts,  perhaps  as  delicious 
as  tliC  vale  they  lived  in,  if  they  could  but  come  nt 
them.     Several  perfons  were  fentout  to  make  dif- 
coverics,  but  without  fuccefs.    '  The  lands  were  too 
vaft  to  travel  over  without  water,  and  they  could 
find  no  fprings  nor  rivers.     At  length  the  moft  fa- 
gacious  ot  them  began  to    reflecfl,    that  the   annual 
overflowing  ot  the  great  river  Nile,    whofe    head 
could  never  be  found  out,  mult   proceed  from   lome 
prodigious  rains  which  fell  fouthwardof  themabotit 
that  time  of  the  year  ;  which  rains  if  they    could 
but  luckily  time   and   meet  with,  might  not    only 
iupply  them  with  water,  but  alio  render  the   coun- 
try fertile  where  they  fell.  "  Accordingly,  the  chief 
Pophar,  aililled  by  fome  of  the  wifed  men,  generouf- 
ly  rcfolved  to  run  all  rifques  to  lave  liis   people. — 
They  computed  the  precife  time  when  the    Nile  o- 
verAowed,  and  allowed  for  the  time  the  waters  mull 

+  Herodotus  fays,  that  they  failed  (even  in  tliofc  early 
diys)  froin  the  Red  Sea,  round  Africa,  and  came  back  to 
"Egypt,  through  the  Streights,  and  up  the  Mediterranean. 
tJi^rodot.  Melpomene,  and  Bochart.  That  Hano  the  elder, 
by  order  of  t'-ie  fenate  of  Carthage,  failed  round  the  greateft 
part  of  the  world,  and  after  his  return  delivered  to  them  an 
account  of  his  voyage,  whicli  is  called  the  Peiiplus  of  Han- 
no.  He  affedcd  to  be  honoured  as  a  god  for  it,  and  lived 
before  boloajoii's  time,     Bochart  iJi  Qianaau.    Lib.  i.  c.  37» 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  IG7 

take  in  defc^nding  fo  far  as  Egypt.  They  thought 
therefore,  if  they  could  but  carry  water  enough  to 
fupply  them  till  they  met  with  thefe  rains,  they 
would  help  them  to  go  on  further.  At  length  five 
of  them  fetout,  with  ten  dromedaries,  carrying  as 
much  water  and  provifions  as  might  ferve  them  for 
fifteen  days,  to  bring  them  back  again  in  cafe  there 
was  no  hopes. 

<  They  fleered  their  courfe  as  we  .did,  though  not 
-  quite  fo  exa£l  the  firfl:  time,  till  they  came  to  the 
place,  where  we  are  now.  Finding  here,  as  their 
notes  tell  us  J,  a  little  rivulet,  which  is  fmce  fwaU 
lowed  up  by  the  fands,  they  filled  their  veffels,  and 
went  up  to  take  an  obfervation,  as  we  did  ;  but  fee- 
ing the  figns  of  the  great  hurricanes,  which  was- 
our  greatell  encouragement,  it  had  like  to  have  dri- 
ven them  into  defpair  ;  for  the  Pophar,  knowing 
the  danger  of  being  overwhelmed  in  the  fands, 
thought  of  nothing  but  flying  back  as  faft  as  he 
could,  fearing  to  be  fwallowed  up  in  thofe  ilifling 
whirlpools.  This  apprelienfion  made  him  layafide 
'^  al^  thoughts  of  fucceeding  towards  that  climate  ;  and 
L-jiow  his  chief  care  was  how  to  get  back  again 
with  fafety  for  himfelf  and  his  people.  But  find- 
ing all  continue  tolerably  ferene  where  they  were, 
they  made  a  halt  in  order  to  make  lome  farther  ob- 
fervations.  In  the  mean  time,  they  refle(iled  that 
'thofe  hurricanes  mud  be  fore-runners  of  tempeft  and 
rain.  Then  they  recolle6led  that  no  rain,  or  what 
was  very    inconfiderable,    ever  fell  in  Egypt*,  or 

\  Thofe  ^vl^e  Ancients  kept  records  of  every  thing  that 
^vas  memorable  and  ufcful  for  their  people.  If  this  had 
been  the  pra£lice  of  the  Europeans,  wc  ihould  not  have  loft 
fo  many  lecrets  of  nature  as  we  have. 

*  This  is  well  known  by  all  the  defcriptlons  of  tliat  coun- 
try, the  inundation  of  the  Nile  fupplying  the  want  of  it,  and 
making  it  one  of  the  moil  fertile  kingdoms  in  the  world,  j 


108  OAUDtNTiO    Dr    LUCCA. 

for  a  gi'eat  way  fouth  of  it,  till  tliey  came  wiihiit 
the  tropicks  ;  and  thence  concluded,  that  the  rain^ 
muft  run  parallel  with  the  equator,  both  under  it, 
and  for  fome  breadth  on  both  fides,  till  they  met 
the  rife  of  the  river  Nile,  and  there  caufed  thole 
vaft  inundations  fo  hard  to  be  accounted  for  by 
other  people.  That,  in  fine,  thofe  rains  muft  laft  a 
confulcrable  while,  and  probably,  though  beginning 
with  tcmpefts,  might  continue  in  fettled  rain,  capa- 
ble of  being  palled  through.  Then  he  at  firft  re- 
folved  to  venture  back  again  to  the  lirft  vale  :  but 
being  a  man  of  great  prudence,  he  preiently  con- 
iidcred,  that  as  he  could  not  proceed  on  his  way 
without  rains,  fo  he  could  not  come  back  again  but 
by  the  fame  help,  which  coming  only  at  one  feafon, 
muft  take  up  a  v^'hole  year  before  he  could  return. 
However  he  was  rcfolved  to  venture  on,  not  doubt- 
ing but  if  he  could  find  a  habitable  country,  he  fliould 
aUofind  fruits  enough  to  i'ubfift  on  till  the  next  fea- 
fon. "^1  herefore  he  ordered  two  of  his  companions 
to  return  the  fame  way  they  came,  to  tell  his  peo- 
ple not  to  expt(5l  him  till  the  next  year,  if  Providence 
fliould  bring  him  back  [it  all  ;  but  if  he  did  not  re- 
turn by  the  time  of  the  overflowing  of  the  Nile,  or 
thereabouts  they  might  give  him  over  for  loft,  and 
mutt  never  attempt  that  way  any  more.  'I'hey  took 
their  leaves  of  one  ar.otheras  if  it  were  the  laft  adieu, 
and  fet  out  at  the  fame  time  j  two  of  them  for  their 

C-very  one  knows  it  was  orKe  the  granary  of  the  Roman  em- 
pire. However,  fome  fmall  rain  falls  fometimes  :  nor  is 
there  any  more  higher  up  in  the  coinitry.  'i  he  ovrrHov/mg 
of  the  Nile  is  known  to  be  cauied  by  vafl  rains  falling  under 
the  line,  or  about  that  climate  ;  and  fince  thofe  don't  take 
Egypt  and  tlic  Jic^joining  part  of  Africa  in  their  way,  they 
niuit  by  confecjuence  run  parallel  with  tl:e  line;  whick  was 
a  very  iiatuvid  and  philofcphical  obfcrvation  of  thcfe  wil'c 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  IO9 

homes  in  the  firft  vale,  and  the  other  three  for 
thoi'e  unknown  regions  ;  being  dcftitute  of  all  other 
helps  but  thofe  of  a  courageous  mind.  The  three 
came  back  to  this  place,  where  it  thundered  and 
lightened  as  it  does  now  ;  but  the  Pophar  obferved 
it  ilill  tended  fide-ways,  and  guefled,  when  the  firft 
violence  was  over,  the  rains  might  be  more  fettled. 
The  next  day  it  fell  out  as  heforefaw;  whereupon, 
recommending  himielf  to  the  great  Author  of  our 
being,  he  launched  boldly  out  into  that  vafl:  ocean  of 
fands  and  rain,  fteering  his  courfe  fouth-weft,  ra- 
ther inclining  towards  the  fouth.  They  went  as  far 
as  the  heavy  fands  and  rains  would  let  them,  till 
their  dromedaries  could  hardly  go  any  farther. 
Then  they  pitched  their  tents  andrefrellied  them- 
felves  juft  enough  to  undergo  new  labour,  well  know- 
ing all  their  lives  depended  on  their  expedition. 
They  obferved  the  fands  to  be  of  a  different  kind 
from  what  they  had  feen  hitherto,  fo  fine,  that  any 
gult  of  wind  muft  overwhelm  man  and  beaif,  only 
the  rains  had  clogged  and  laid  them. 
'  Not  to  prolong  your  expectation  too  much  :  they 
wjnt  on  thus  for  ten  days,  till  the  rains  began  to 
abate  ;  then  they  faw  their  lives  or  deaths  would 
foon  be  detsrmined.  The  eleventh  day  the  ground 
began  to  grow  harder  in  patches,  with  here  and  therrt 
a  little  raofs  on  the  furface,  and  now  and  then  a 
fmall  withered  (lirub.  This  revived  their  hopes, 
that  they  (liould  find  good  land  in  a  fhort  time,  and 
in  effecl  the  foil  changed  for  the  better  every  Hep 
they  took ;  and  now  they  began  to  fee  little  hills  co- 
vered with  grafs,  and  the  valleys  fink  down  as  if 
there  might  be  brooks  and  rivers.  Tlie  twelfth  and 
thirteenth  day  cleared  all  their  doubts,  and  brou^^ht 
them  into  a  country,  which  though  not  very  fer- 
tile had  both  water  and  fruits,  with  a  hopeful  prof- 

K 


,1X0  CAUDLNT'O    DI    LUCC^. 

pc*n  further  on  of  hills  and  dales,  all  habilablc  ftn^ 
flourUhing.  Here  they  fell  proQrate  on  the  earth, 
adorhig  the  Cireator  of  all  things,  who  had  conju^i- 
eJ  them  lafc through  fo  many  dangers, and  kiffing  the 
ground,  wliich  was  to  be  the  common  nurle  for  ihera, 
and,  as  ihcy  hoped,  for  all  their  poflerity  :  wheji 
they  had  repofcd  tlicmfelves  for  fome  days,  they 
proceeded  further  into  the  country,  \vl»ich  tlicy 
found  to  mend  upon  them  the  more  they  advanced 
into  it.  Not  intending  to  return  till  next  year, 
they  fiHight  the  propercft  place  for  their  habitation ; 
and  felling  up  marks  at  every  moderate  diftance  not 
to  lofe  their  way  back  again,  they  made  for  the  high- 
c(\  hills  they  could  fee,  from  whence  they  ptrceiy- 
ed  an  immenfe  and  delicious  country  every  way; 
but,  to  their  greater  iatisfacflion,  no  inhabitants. 
1  hey  wandered  thus  at  pleafurr  through  thole  na- 
tural gardens  where  there  was  a  perpetual  fpring 
in  fome  kinds  cf  the  produc*  ot  the  earih,  andtiie 
rij:enefs  of  autumn  with  the  moU  ex(iuifite  fruits  in 
others.  They  kept  the  mod  exaft  obfervalicns 
pofllble.  Which  ever  way  they  went,  there  were  not 
only  fprings  and  fountains  in  abundance,  but,  as 
they giiefTtd  (for  they  kept  the  higher  ground)  the 
lu^adsofgreat  rivers  8^^  lakes, fome  ofwhiciitheyjcould 
pcrcei'.e  ;  fothat  they  were  falisfied  there  was  room 
enough  for  ^^  hole  nations,  without  any  danger,  as 
thev  could  find,  cf  being  difturbed.  By  their  ob- 
f(i.r\ation  of  the  fun,  they  were  nigher  the  etpiator 
than  they  had  imagined^',  fo  that  they  there  pafled 

*  Tbcpg!)  \\c  inay  imagine  a  ItfTcr  circle  p'.uallel  to  tl.c 
tropics  ard  the  equator,  \vhich  is  called  iMaxnnus  Vaiallelo- 
lum;  vet  \v!)Ofver  travels  eilh.cr  by  laad  or  fca,  parallel  as 
he  tbinks,  to  the  equator,  Joc-s  nr-t  fo,  but  will  approach  to 
it ;  nay,  aid  crof*  it  at  lafl,  (unlrrfs  lie  goes  fpirally )  and 
miike  irdentures  as  he  goes  along  :  the  reafop  is,  btcaufc 
v»l.trc\'er  we  are,  we  are  on  tiie  fumiDit  of  the  globe  witi 


GAUDENTIO    DI   LUCCA.  Ill" 

the  middle  fpace  batvveen  the  tropic  and  the  line.  Be- 
ing come  back  to  their  firft  ftation,  they  there  wait* 
'  ed  the  proper  feafon  for  their  return.  The  rains 
came  Ibmethihg  fooner  than  the  year  before,  be- 
*  caufe  they  were  further  weft'.vard.  Thehurricanes 
'  were  nothing  like  what  they  were  in  the  vaft  fands. 
As  loon  as  they  began  to  fix  in  fettled  rains,  they  fet 
out  again  as  before,  and  in  twenty  days  time  from 
their  lalt  fetting  out,  happily  arrived  at  the  place 
where  they  left  their  dear  friends  and  relations, 
whofejoy  for  their  fafe  and  happy  arrival  was  greater 
'  than  I  can  pretend  to  defcribe.  Thus  this  immor- 
tal hero  accompliihed  his  great  undertaking,  fo  mucli 
'  more  glorious  than  all  the  victories  of  the  greateil 
••  conquerors,  as  it  was  projected,  formed,  and  exe- 
'  cuted  by  is  own  wifdom  and   courage  ;  not  by  ex- 

*  pofing  and  facrificing  the  lives  of  thoulands  of  his 
'  lubje^ls,  perhaps  greater  men  than  himfelf,  but  by 
'  expofmg  his  own  life  for  the  fafety  of  thofe  that 
'  depended  on  him. 

*  It  were  too  tedious  to  recount  to  you  all  the  dif- 
'  Acuities  and  troubles  they  had,  both  in  refclving  to 

*  undertake  fuch  a  hazardous  tranfmigration,  as  well 
'  as  ihofe  of  tranfporting  fuch  a  multitude,  v/itll 
'  their  wives  and  children,  and  all  their  moll:  preci- 
'  ous  efte<9:s,  over  thofe  raercilefs  fands,  which  they 
'  could  only  pafs  atone  leafon  of  the  year.  13ut  the 
'  voyage  being  at  length  refolved  on,  and  the  good 
'  Pophar  wifely  confidering  the  difficulties  ;  and  ne- 
'  ceility  the  mother  of  invention,  urging  )iim,  at  the 

*  fame  time,  to  gain  as  much  time  as  he  could,  fmc6 

*  the  vale  where  they  were  at  prcfent  was  fufficient 

*  to  maintain  them  till  the  rains  came  ;  got  all  his 
'  people  hither  in  the  mean  time,  to  be  ready  for  the 

refpedl  to  us,  and  our  feet  make  a  perpendicular  to  tlie  cen- 
tre ;  fo  that  if  we  go  round  the  globe,  we  fi lall  make  a  great 
circle,  and  by  confequence  cut  the  equator. 


112  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA, 

*  feafon.     The  new-born   children  were   left   ulth 

*  motijers,  aiul  pcoj^lc  to  take  care  of  them,  till  they 

*  were  able  to  bear  the  fatigue.     Tlius  in  i^cvtn  years 

*  time,  going  backwards  and  forwards  every  feafon, 
'  they  all   arri\  ed  lafc,   where  we  ourfelves  hope  to 

*  be  in  ten  or  twelve  <lays  time.     This   great  hero 

*  we  defervedly  honour,  as  another  Mefraim,  the  fe  • 

*  cond  founder  of  our  nation,  from  whofe  loins  you 

*  yourfclf  fprung  by  tlie  fwrer  fule,  and  are  going  to 

*  be  incorporCitcd  iigain  with  the  offspring  ofy our  firft 

*  anceflors.' 

Here  he  ended  his  relation,  and  your  Reverences 
may  eafily  believe,  I  was  in  the  greatefb  admiration 
at  this  unheard-of  account.  Asitraifed  the  ideas  I 
iiad  of  the  people,  fo  I  could  not  be  lorry  to  find  my- 
ielf,  young  and  forlorn  as  I  was  before,  incorporated 
with,  and  allied  tofucha  flourifliing  and  civilized  na- 
tion. My  expe^lation  was  not  dii'proportionable  to 
my  ideas :  1  was  pcrfuaded  I  was  going  into  a  very 
fine  country  ;  but  the  thoughts  of  their  being  Pagans 
left  fome  little  damp  on  my  fpirits,  and  was  a  draw- 
back to  niy  expc<fled  happineis.  However,  I  was  rc- 
lolved  to  preferve  my  religion,  at  the  expencc  of  all 
that  was  dear  to  mc,  and  even  of  life  itfclf. 

By  this  time,  the  Pophar  ordered  us  to  refrcfli  our- 
felves, and  prepare  all  things  for  our  departure,  though 
the  llorm  of  thunder  and  lightening  did  not  ceafc  till 
towards  morning.  At  length,  all  things  being  ready 
for  our  moving,  we  marched  on  liowly  till  we  came 
into  tlie  courfe  of  raim--.  It  was  the  moll  fettled  atid 
downright  rain^  (as  the  laying  is)  that  ever  I  faw ; 
every  tiling  feemed  to  be  as  calm,  as  the  tempeft  was 
violent  before.  Being  accuflomed  to  it,  they  had  pro- 
vided open  veffels  on  eacii  fide  of  the  dromedaries,  to 
catch  enough  for  their  uie  as  it  fell,  and  they^covered 
themfelves  and  their  beafts  with  that  fine  oiled  cloth 
1  mentioned  before.  All  the  lands  ^yere  laid,  and 
even  beaten  hard  by  the  rains,  though  heavy  and  clog- 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUGCA.  1 13 

gy  at  the  fame  time.  We  made  as  much  way  as  po3i« 
ble  for  five  davs,  jufl  refting  and  refreQiing  ourfelves 
when  abfolutely  neceflary.  I  mud  own,  nothing  could 
he  more  difmal  than  thofe  dreary  foUtary  defarts, 
wh'jre  we  could  neither  fee  fun  nor  moon  but  had  on* 
ly  a  gloomy,  malignant  light,  juft  fufficient  to  look  at 
the  needle,  and  take  our  obfervations.  On  the  fixth 
day,  we  thought  we  faw  fomething  move  fideways  of 
us  on  our  right  hand  but  ieemingly  pafllng  by  us, 
when  one  of  the  young  men  cried — '  There  they  are,' 
and  immediately  eroded  down  to  them.  Then  we 
perceived  them  to  be  perfons  travelling  like  our- 
felves, croffing  in  the  fame  manner  up  towards  us.  I 
was  extremely  furprized  to  find,  that  thofe  defarts 
w^re  known  to  any  but  ourfelves.  But  the  Pophar 
foon  put  me  out  of  pain,  by  telling  me,  they  were 
fome  of  their  own  people,  taking  the  fame  feafon  to 
go  for  Egypt,  and  on  the  fame  account.  By  this  time 
we  were  come  up  to  one  another.  '-The  leader  of  the 
other  caravan,  with  all  his  company,  immediately  got 
off  their  dromedaries,  and  fell  proftrate  on  tlie  earth 
before  our  Pophar  ;  at  which  he  doped  back,  and  cri- 
ed-— '■  Alas  !  is  our  father  dead  ?*  They  told  him, 
Yes  ;-and  that  he  being  the  firft  of  the  fecond  line, 
was  to  be  regent  of  the  kingdom,  till  the  voung  Po- 
phar, who  was  born  when  his  father  was  an  old  man, 
lliould  come  to  the  age  of  fifty.  Then  our  people  got 
off,  and  proftrated  themfelves  before  him*,  all  but 
inyfelf.  They  took  no  notice  of  my  negle£l,  ieeing  me 
me  a  fupernumerary  perfon,  and  by  confequcnce  a 
ftranger  ;  but  as  foon  as  the  ceremonies  were  over, 
came  and  embraced  me,  and  welcomed  me  into  their 
brotherhood  with  tlie  mod  fincere  cordiality,  as  if  I 
had  been  one  of  their  nation.  The  Pophar  foon  told 
them  who   I  was,  which  made    repeat  tlieir  carcflT^^s 

*  The  eaAcrn  manner  of  IhCkVing  rePpet^, 
K  2 


114  GAUDEXTIO    DI    LUCCA, 

with  new  cxlafies  of  joy  peculiar  to  thcfc  people.  Af- 
ter reiterated  enquiries  concerning  their  friends,  and 
aflbrances  that  all  was  well,  except  what  they  had 
juft  told  him,  the  Pophar  afkcdthem,  how  they  came 
to  direct  ihc'ir  courfe  fo  much  on  the  left  hand,  cx- 
pcaing  to  have  met  them  the  day  before,  and  they 
feemirg  to  point  as  if  as  they  were'  going  out  of  their 
way.  They  told  us,  they  were  now 'fcnfiblc  of  it, 
and  were  making  up  for  the  true  road  as  fafl:  as  they 
could  :  but  that  the  day  before,  they  had  like  to  have 
loft  themfelves  by  the  darknefs  of  the  weather,  and 
their  too  great  fecurity  ;  for,  bearing  too  much  on  the 
left  hand,  one  of  their  dromedaries  floundered,  as  if 
he  were  got  into  a  quickfand  f.  The  rider  thinking 
it  had  been  nothing  but  fome  loofer  part  of  the  fund, 
tliought  to  go  on,  but  fell  deeper  the  further  he  went, 
till  the  commander  ordered  him  to  get  off  immediate- 
ly, which  he  did  with  fo  much  haltc,  that  not  mind- 
ing his  dromedary,  the  poor  bcall  going  on  further  in- 
to the  quick-fands  was  loli.  Hicn  the  Pophar  told 
them,  there  was  fuch  a  place  marked  down  in  their 
ancient  charts,  which,  being  fo  well  acquainted  with 
the  roads,  they  had  never  minded  of  late  years  :  that 

f  Perfons  inay  wontlcr  to  licnr  of  qaick-fanda  in  the  niidft 
of  the  fiMi-bunit  defaits  of  Afirita.  But  ihe  thing  will  not 
il'cm  fo  ifuprobublc,  when  we  coiwe  to  examine  tlie  reafons 
of  it.  W'itlieut  doubt,  our  aalhor  does  r.ot  uiean  fuch  quick- 
fancls  as  are  caufed  by  the  coming  in  of  ihe  tide  upon  the 
iands  ;  a  man  of  fenfe  would  be  incnpabla  of  fuch  a  blunder. 
Viui  that  there  fliculd  be  Ibme  flagnating  waters  in  the  low 
fwanips  of  tlie  fands,  is  fo  far  from  being  incredible,  that  it 
can  be  hardly  thought  to  be  otherwife.  It  is  very  well 
known,  there  ;<re  vafl  lakes  in  fome  parts  of  Africa,  which 
have  no  vifible  outlets.  There  are  rivers  alfo  that  lofe 
themfelves  in  the  finJb',  where  fmking  under  for  fome  time, 
they  may  form  faudy  marflics,  or  quitk-fands,  as  the  auth.or 
calls  th^;m. 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA;  IIJ 

he  fuppofed  thofe  quick-fands  to  be  either  the  rains, 
which  had  funk  through  the  fands,  and  meeting  with 
fome  flrata  ol:  clay,  ftagnated,  and  were  forming  a 
lake  ;  or  more  probably,  it  was  the  courfe  of  fome 
diftant  river  riung  perhaps  out  of  a  habitable  country, 
at  an  unknown  diftance,  but  had  loll  itfelf  in  thofe 
immenfe  fands.  However,  he  congratulated  them  on 
their  efcape  ;  and  like  a  tender  father,  gently  chid 
them  for  their  too  great  fecurity  in  that  boundlefs 
ocean.  Our  time  not  permiting  us  to  (lay  long,  each 
caravan  fet  out  again  for  their  dedined  courfe,  hav- 
ing but  five  or  fix  days  journey  to  make,  that  is,  as 
far  as  we  could  travel  in  fo  many  days  and  lo  many 
nights  ;  for  we  never  flopped  but  to  refrefli  ourfelvef. 
The  rains  had  fo  tempered  the  air,  that  it  was  ra- 
ther cold  than  hot,  efpecially  the  nights,  which 
grew  longer,  as  we  approached  the  line.  Here  we 
fleered  our  courfe  more  to  the  weft  again,  but  not  fo 
as  to  leave  the  ridge  of  the  world.  I  obferved,  the 
more  we  kept  to  the  weft,  the  more  moderate  the 
rains  were,  as  indeed  th  ey  flackened  in  proportion  as 
we  came  nigher  our  journey's  end  ;  becaufe  coming 
from  tlie  weft,  or  at  leaft  with  a  little  point  of  the 
fouth,  thty  began  fooner  than  where  we  fet  out.  The 
tenth  day  of  our  journey,  I  mean  from  the  laft  grove 
or  refting-place,  one  of  our  dromedaries  failed.  We 
had  changed  them  feveral  times  before,  to  make  their 
labour  more  equal.  They  would  not  let  it  die,  for 
the  good  it  had  done  ;  but  two  of  the  company 
having  water  enough,  and  knowing  where  they  were, 
flaid  behind,  to  bring  it  along  v/ith  them.  We  now 
found  the  nature  of  the  fands  and  foil  beino;  to  chanp^e, 
as  the  Popliar  had  informed  me  ;  the  ground  began  to 
be  covered  with  a  little  mois,  tending  towards  a 
greenfward,  more  like  barren  downs  than  fands  :  and 
I  unexpe<^edly  perceived  in  fome  places,  inftead  of 
thofe  barren  gravelly  fands,  large  fpaces  of  tolerable 


Il6  GAUDEKTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

good  foil*.  At  length,  to  our  inexpreflibie  j*7)'and 
comfort,  at  lead  for  myfelf,  wlio  could  not  but  be  in 
fonic  fufpcnfc  in  fuch  c.n  unknown  world,  we  came  to 
ratches  of  trees  and  e;rafswith  (iantir.g  falls  andbeads 
of  vales,  wl.ich  fecmcd  lo  enlarge  themfelvcs  beyond 

•  It  v.as  obfcivfd  in  fome  rf  the  former  remarks,  that 
rot  only  the  (lefarts  of  Abica,  but  all  the  Qrala,  or  great 
btde  cf  gravel,  whicli  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  world, 
probably  were  caiifcd  by  tlie  rr.ivcrf.il  deluge,  ror  can  th.ey 
be  veil  accounted  for  cthenvife,  'J'I;g  deeper  the  beds  c  t* 
gravel  are,  the  more  they  fl^ew,  by  the  heterogeneous  Hvilf 
lodged  with  them,  tli3t  they  vere  brought  thither,  not  pro- 
duced there  ab  crrgine.  1'he  vafi  falls  and  gullets,  which 
are  feen  on  the  ftiirtsof  all  the  mountains  in  t.'ie  world,  evi- 
dently flicw  they  weic  caufcd  by  fome  violent  agitation, 
which  carried  the  lool<  reaith  and  iinall  Hones  along  with  Ir: 
for  which  nothing  can  be  more  natural,  than  t!;c  I'uppcfiilon 
of  a  flood,  or  agitated  fluid,  wkuh,  by  It'*  violence  and  (liak- 
ings,  carried  all  tliat  was  moveable  befiire  it  for  fome  time. 
This  gravel  was  incorparated  wiih  tl-e  lool'e  earth  bef)rc  tlie 
flood,  and  was  carried  to  and  fro,  while  tlie  waters  were  in 
their  greatert  agitation,  Wrtfljing  and  m.elting  tlie  loofc  earth 
from  the  gravel  and  (lonys.  }Ujt  >\hcu  llic  waters  came  to 
their  hlghel}  pitch,  and  began  to  lubfide,  the  floncs  and  g:  a- 
velwould  fink  fooner  than  lighter  things,  and  fo  be  Uh  >K 
moll  in  n  body  in  tlu  It;  flrata  they  appear  in.  This  n:ig!yt 
be  illuftratfd  n)uch  furti.er,  if  thee  were  occalion.  'i  lie  vaft 
numbers  of  petrified  Ihclls  and  liallops,  which  are  f.  uud  in 
all  parts  of  the  world,  on  the  higher  grounds,  could  never 
be  a  mere  lufus  natures^  as  fome  too  curious  philofophers 
imagine,  but  muH  be  accounted  for  by  fuch  a  flood  ;  and 
thcfe  apjjearing  in  all  parts  of  the  univcrfe,  the  flood  mult 
liave  been  unlverfal.  The  fudden  change  of  foils  in  cvciy 
region,  with  the  exceeding  rlchnefiof  fome  m.ore  than  otheis, 
and  that  too  fometimes  all  at  once,  is  to  be  accounted  for 
from  the  fame  caufe  ;  for  tie  fame  violence  of  waters  wafli- 
ing  the  earth  from  the  Hones,  mnf\  naturally  make  an  un- 
equal accumulation  of  both.     As  for  Africa,  ail  the  a'xieiiti 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  XtJ 

our  view  f .  The  rains  were  come  to  their  period  » 
only  it  looked  a  little  foggy  at  a  great  diilance  before 
us,  which  was  partly  from  the  exhalations  oi  the 
country  after  the  rains  {,  partly  from  the  trees  and 
hills  (lopping  the  clouds,  by  which  we  found  that  the 
weather  did  not  clear  up  in  the  habitable  countries  fo 
foon  as  in  the  barren  defarts.  The  Pophar  told  me, 
tliat  if  it  were  not  for  the  hazineis  of  the  air,  he  would 
fhew  me  the  moL\  beautiful  profpecH;  that  ever  my  eyes 
beheld.  1  was  ieniibly  convinced  of  it  by  the  per- 
fumes of  the  fpicy  fhrubs  and  fiowers,  which  ftruck 
our  fenfes  with  fuch  a  reviving  fragrancy,  as  made 
us  almoll  forget  our  paft  fatigue,  eCpecially  me,  who 
had  not  felt  the  like  even  in  the  firll  vale  :  neither  do 
I  believe  all  the  ordours  of  the  Happy  Arabia  could 
ever  come  up  to  it.  I  was  juft  as  if  I  had  rifen  out  of 
the  moll  delicous  repofe.  Here  the  Pophar  ordered 
us  to  fhop  for  refrefiiment,  and  added,  that  we  muft 
flay  there  till  next  day.  We  pitcVied  our  tents  on  the 
liiftdefcent  of  thofe  imraenfe  Bares,  by  the  fide  of  a 
little  rill  that  iiTued  out  of  the  iinall  break  of  the 
downs,  exne^^ins:  further  orders.    , 

The  caufe  of  our  (lay  here,  where  we  were  out  of 
clanger,  was  not  only  for  our  companions  we  had  left 
behind  us,  but  on  a  ceremonious  account,  as  your 
Reverences  will  fee  by  and  by  :  they  were  alfo  to 
change  their  habits,that  they  might  appear  in  the  co- 
lours of  their  refpedlive  tribe  or  Nome,  which  were 

fpeakof  the  incredible  fertility  of  it  in  fome  places,  and  the 
extreme  banennefs  of  the  deOirts  in  others. 

t  The  prodigious  height  of  the  fands  in  Africa,  in  thefe 
parts  which  lie  between  the  tropics,  miy  not  only  be  the 
caufe  of  the  fands  or  gravel  finking  in  greater  quantities  at 
the  decreafe  of  the  flood  ;  but  the  mod  extenfive  vales  may 
have  had  their  rife  from  very  fmall  gullets  at  firll. 

\  It  is  very  natural  to  think,  that  thofe  barren  fun-burflt 
deltirts  fend  up  but  few  exhalations. 


nS  CAUDIXTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

five,  according  to  the  number  of  the  fons  of  ilie  fird 
Pophar,  who  hrought  them    out  of    Egypt,    whofc 
flatue   we  faw  at  the  Pyrair.'kl.     Bv    their  laws,    all 
tJie  tribes  are  to  be  diftinguillietl  by  their  colours  ;  that 
wherever  they  go,  they  may  be  known    what    Nome 
they  belong  to  ;  with  particular  marks  of  iWw  ports 
and  dignities  ;  as  I  ftiall  dcicribeto  your  Reverences 
afterwards.     The  grand  Pophar*s  colour,   who  was 
deicendcd  from  the  eldcft  fon  of  tl-.e  nncici't  Pophar, 
was  a  flame  colour,  or  approacliing  r.igli  the  rays  of  the 
fun,  becaufe  he  was  chief  priefk  of  ti^.e  Sun.     Our  new 
regent's  colour  was  green,  fpanglcd  with  funs  of  gold,  ■ 
as  your  Reverences  faw  in  the  pit5\urc  ;  the  green  re- 
presenting  the  fpring,  which  is  the  chief  fealon  with 
them.     The  third  colour  is  a  fiery  red,  for   the  fum- 
mer.     7'he  fourth  is  yellow,   for   autumn ;  and   the 
fifth  purple,  reprefenting  the   gloominefs  of  winter; 
for  thefe  people,  acknowledging  the  fun  for   the  im- 
mediate governor  of  the  univcrle,  mimic    the  nature 
of  liis  iniiuence  as  nii^li  as  thev    can.     The  women 
cbfer%  e  the  colours  of  their  re1"pe6live  tribes,  but  have 
moons  of  filvcr  intermixed  with  the  funs,  to  fliew  that 
they  are  influenced  in  a  great  mealure  by  that  varia- 
ble planet.     The  young  virgins  have  the  new  moon  ; 
in  the  Orength  ot  their  age  the  full    moon  ;   as  they 
grow  old,  the  moon  is  in  the  decreafe  proportionably. 
The  widows  have  the  moon  exprelfed  jult  as  it    is  in 
the  change;  the  defceiidants  of  the  daughters  of  the 
iirftPopliar  were  incorporated  with  the  reft.     Thoie 
of  the  eldeft   daughter  took  the  cldeft  fon's  colour, 
with  a  mark  of  dillin<^ion,  to  lliew  they  were  never 
tofucceed  to  the  Popharfliip,  or    regency,  till    there 
Ihould  be  no  male  iifue  of  the  otliers  at  age  to  govern. 
This  right  oftlderfliip,  as  thefe  people  underltand  it, 
is  a  little  intricate,  but  1  Iliall  explain  it  to  your  Rev- 
erences more  at  large,  when   I    come  to  fpeak  more 
particularly  of  their  government.     When  they    are 
lent  out  into  foreign  countries,  they  take  what  habit 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  1 19 

-of  colour  they  pleafe,  and  generally  go  all  alike,  to  be 
■  known  to  each  other  ;  but  they  mull:  not  appear  ia 
their  own<:ountry  but  in  their  proper  coleurs,  it  being 
criminal  to  do  otlierwife.  They  carry  marks  alio  otf 
their  families,  that  in  cafe  any  mifdemeanor  fliould  be 
committed,  they  may  know  whereto  trace  it  out;  for 
which  reafon,  now  they  drew  near  their  own  country, 
they  were  to  appear  in  the  colours  of  their  refpe6live 
Nomes  ;  all  but  myfeif^  wlio  had  the  fame  garment  I 
wore  at  Grand  Cairo,  to  fliew  I  was  a  ftrangcr,  though 
I  wore  the  Pophar"'s  colour  afterwards,  as  being  his 
relation,  and  incorporated  in  his  family.  When  they 
were  all  arrayed  in  their  hlken  robes  of  different  co- 
lours, fpan^led  with  funs  of  gold,  with  white  fillets 
round  their  temples,  ftudded  with  precious  ftones^ 
tiiey  made  a  very  delightful  Aiew,  being  the  handfom- 
eft  race  of  people  this  day  in  the  univerfe,  and  all  re- 
fcmbling  each  other,  as  having  no  mixture  of  other 
nations  in  their  blood. 

The  fun  had  now  broke  through  the  clouds,  and 
difcovered  to  us  the  profpe^t  of  the  country,  but 
fuch  a  one  as  I  am  not  able  to  defcribe  ;  it  looked  ra- 
tiicrlike  an  immenfe  garden  than  a  country:  at  that 
diilance  I  could  fee  nothing  but  trees  anj  groves; 
whether  i  looked  towards  the  hills  or  vales,  all  feem- 
cd  to  be  one  continued  wood,  though  with  tome  feem*. 
ingly  regular  intervals  of  Iquares  and  plains,  with  the 
ghitering  of  gulden  globes  or  funs  through  the  tops 
of  the  trees,  that  it  looked  like  a  green  mantle  fpang- 
led  with  gold.  I  afkcd  the  Pophar,  if  they  lived  all 
in  woods,  or  whether  the  country  was  only  one  con- 
tinued immenfe  forelL  He  fmiled,  and  faid — '  When 
'  we  come  thither,  you  (hall  fee  fomething  elfe  be- 
'  fries  woods  ;'  and  then  bid  me  look  back,  and  com- 
pare the  dreary  fands  we  had  lately  paffed,  with  that 
glorious  profped  we  faw  before  us  ;  I  did  fo,  aiid 
found  the  dihnal  barrennefs  of  the  one  enhanced  the 
beautiful  dcli;^h!:  of  the  other.     '  The  reafon,'  lays 


I20  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

he,  *  why  it  looks  like  a  wood  is,  ilmt   befides  innU- 

*  mcrablc  kinds  of  fruits,  all  our  towns,  fquarcs,  and 

*  llrcels,  ns  well  as  fields    and  gardens,  are  planted 
'  wiih  trees,  both  for  dcliglu  and  convcnicncy,  though 

*  you  will  find  fpare  ground  enough  for    tlie  ])roduce 
'  of  all  things  fulEcicnt  to  make  the  life  of  man  eafy 

*  and  happy.     The  glittering  of  gold  through  the  tops 
'  of  the  trees,  arc  golden  funs  on  the  tops  of  the  tcm- 

*  pies  and  buildings :  we  build  our  houles  flat   nnd 

*  low  on  account  of  hurricanes,  with  gnrdcns  of  per- 

*  fumed  cver-greens  on  i4.c  tops  of  tfiem  ;  wliich  is 
'  the  reafonyou  fee  nothing  but  groves.' 

A\'e  defcended  gradually  from  off  the  delart  tluough 
the  fcattercd  fluubs,  and  were  faluted  eveiy  now 
and  then  with  a  gale  of  perfumes  (juite  tiifferent  from 
M  hat  are  brought  to  the  Europeans  from  foreign  parts. 
The  freili  air  of  the  morning,  together  witli  their  be- 
ing eximled.  from  the  living  ll<)cks,gave  them  fuch  a 
fragancy  as  cannot  be  exprclled.  At  length  we  came 
to  a  fpacious  plain  a  litth  Ihelving,  and  covered  with 
a  greenifli  coat,  between  mols  and  grafs,  which  was 
the  utmoll  border  of  the  delart ;  and  beyond  it  a  fmall 
liver,  collected  from  the  hills,  as  it  were,  weeping 
out  of  the  funds  indifferent  places;  which  river  was 
the  bouixlaiy  of  the  kingdom  that  way.  Halting 
tliere,  wc  dilcovered  a  fmull  company  of  ten  perfons, 
the  fame  nuuiber,  excluding  me,  with  ours,  advancing 
gravely  towards  us:  they  were  in  the  proper  colours  of 
the  Nomes,  with  ipangled  funs  of  gold,  as  my  com- 
panions wore,  only  the  tops  of  their  heads  were 
ij)rinkled  with  dull,  in  token  of  mourning.  As  loon 
as  they  came  at  a  due  diltance,  they  fell  flat  on  their 
faces  before  the  Pophar,  without  laying  a  word,  and 
received  the  golden  Urns  w'tli  the  Garth -which  wc 
brought  along  with  us.  Then  they  turned,  and  march- 
ed diredly  before  us,  holding  the  \Jn\s  in  their  hands 
as  high  as  they  could,  but  all  in  a  deep  and  mournful 
iilence.     Thefe  were  deputies  of  the  five  Noniesfent 


GM.UDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  121 

to  meat  the  Urns.  We  advanced  in  this  filent  mari- 
ner, witliout  faying  one  word,  till  we  came  to  the  ri- 
ver, over  which  was  a  (lately  bridge  with  a  triumphal 
^rch  on  the  top  of  it,  beautified  with  funs  of  gold, 
mofl  magnificent  to  behold.  Beyond  the  brid-^^e,  we 
immediately  paffed  through  a  kind  of  circular  grove, 
which  led  us  into  a  mod  delightful  plain,  like  an  am- 
phitheatre, with  five  avenues  or  ilreets  leading  to  it  : 
.  at  the  entrance  of  each  avenue  ftood  an  innumerable 
multitude  of  people  reprcfenting  the  five  Nomes,  or 
governments  of  thofe  immenfe  kingdoms,  all  in 
llieir  different  colours,   fpangled  with  funs   of  gold, 

which  made  the  moll  glorious  fliow  in  the  world. 

As  loon  as  we  entered  the  amphitheatre,    our  filence 
WHS  broke  with  fliouts  of  joy  that  rended   the  very 
flvies  ;  then  tlie  whole  multitude  falling  ^.at  on   their 
faces,  adoring  the  Urns,  and  thrice  repeating  their 
(liouts,  and  adorations,  there  advanced  ten  triumphant 
cliaiiois,  according  to  the  colours  of  the  Nomes  with 
funs  as  before ;  nine  of  the  chariots  were  drav/n  with 
fix  horfes  each,  and  the  tenth  v/ith  eight  for  the  Po- 
phar  regent.     The  five  deputies,  who  were  the  chief 
of  each  Nome,  with  the    Urns   and    companions, 
mounted  five  of  the  chariots  ;  the  other  five    were 
for  us,  two  in  a  chariot ;  only  being  a  fupernumerar}', 
I  was  placed  backwards  in  the  Pophar's  chariot,  which 
he  told  me  was  the  only  mark  of  humiliation  and  in- 
equality I  would  receive.     We  were  conda^led  with 
five  fquadrons  of  horfe,  of  fifty  men  each,  in  their  pro- 
per colours,  with  dreamers  of  the  fame,  havin^^  the 
iun  in  the  centre,  through  the   oppofite    avenue;   till 
we  came  into  another  amphitheatre  ofavaft  extent 
where  we  faw  an  infinite  number  of  tents   of  filk  of 
the  colour  of  the  Nomes,  all  of  them   fpangled    with 
golden  funs  :  here  we  were  to   reft  and  refrelh  our- 
iclves.     The  Pophar's  tent  was  in  the  centre  of  hia 
own  colour,  which  was  green,  the  fecond  Nome   in 

JL 


122  CAUDENTrO    DI    LUCCA 

dignity,  in  whofe  tlumiuions  aud  government  we  now 
were, 

I  have  been  longer  in  this  defcription  bccaufc  it 
was  more  a  religious  ceremony  than  any  thing  clfe, 
I iiefc  people  being  extremely  myflerious  in  all  they 
tie.-''  I  {1k;11  cNjjlain  the  meaning  to  your  Reveren- 
ces as  briefly  as  1  can.  Tlie  (lopping  before  we  came 
to  the  bt  idgc  on  the  borders  of  thole  inhofpitable  dc- 
farts,  and  walking  in  that  mournful  filent  manner,  not 
ofily  expreficd  their  mourning  for  their  deceaiied  an- 
celiors,  but  alfo  fignificd  the  various  calamities  and 
labours  incident  to  man  in  this  life,  where  he  is  not 
onlv  looked  upon  to  he,  but  really  is,  in  a  Hate  of  ba- 
nlHimcnt  and  mourning ;  wandering  in  fun-burnt  dc- 
ferts,  and  l()!l  with  iJorms  of  innumerable  lawlels  de- 
fires,. Pill  figliing  after  a  better  counirj-.  The  paiTage 
over  the  bridge,  thcv  would  have  to  betoken  man's 
entrance  into  reil  by  doath  ;  their  fliouts  of  joy,  when 
the  iacrcd  Urns  arrived  in  that  glorious  country,  not 
only  fignificd  the  happinefs  of  the  next  life,  (forthcie 
jieoplc  univerlally  believe  in  the  immortality  of  the 
lbul,and  think  none  but  brutes  can  be  ignorant  of  it) 
but  alio  that  ilicir  anceilcrs,   whofe  burial  duft  they 

•  Tl^e  arcient  Kgvptians  were  'io  myptrlcus,  partirulntly 
iji  their  religions  ciTtrmonlcs,  and  arcana  of  govf rnmt- r.r, 
tlrat  in  all  pmbability,  the  ancient  fa'uics,  which  very  few 
yet  undf  I  Ilatid  rightly,  iiad  tlieir  rife  from  thcin  ;  lUrugh 
the  Itarncd  Bcch'dtt,in  his  I'halcg.  derives  them  chiefly  from 
the  Cajia;inite?,  vvho  dilixrfu  g  tleniielves  all  over  tl:e  woild, 
1^ hen  they  Hcd  from  Jolhua,  impofed  upoii  the  eredulor.s 
Giecks  by  the  difilrent  fignifications  of  the  fame  Avoids  in 
their  language.  Jt  is  obfcrvable,  by  tl)eby,that  the  in  oft  of 
the  ancient  lai;giiages,  as  the  Hebrew,  Nsith  its  dire<f\  dia- 
lects, of  V  jiich  the  Canaanean  or  Phcenccian  language  was 
ore,  the  Chinefe  hrguage,  <&c.  had  a  great  many  fignifica- 
tions  for  the  fame  word,  either  from  the  plain  fmiplicity  or 
j^oYcrty  of  tlic  arcitnt  languages,  or  more  probably  from  an 
affefled  myfteiiouiiiefs  in  all  they  did. 


GAl/DENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  I  2 J 

Drought  along  with  them,   were   now   in  a  place    of 

everlaftlng  reft. 

[^Inquisitor,     I  hope  you  do  not  believe  fo  of  Hea-* 

thens,  let  them  be  ever  fo  moral  men,  fince  we  havie 
'no  affiirance  of  happinefs  in  the  next  life  mentioned 

in  the  Holy  Scripture,  without  faith  in  Chrift. 
Gaudentio.     No,  Reverend  Fathers  j  I  only  mentl*'* 

on  the  fenfe  in  which   the le  men    underftand   the 

myfteries  of  their  religion.     As  I  believe  in  Chrift^ 

I  know  there  is  no  other  name  under   heaven   by 

which  men  can  be  faved, 
lnjuisiior\     Go  on.] 

Every  ceremony  of  thefe  people  has  fome  myflery 
or  other  included  in  it ;  but  there  appeared  no  harrti 
in  any  of  them,  except  thcix  falling  proftrate  before 
the  daft,  which  looked  like  rank  idolatry  :  but  they 
faid  ftill,  they  meant  no  more  than  what  was  merely 
civil,  to  figniFy  their  refped  for  their  deceaied  pa- 
rents.* 

I  (hall  not  as  yet  detain  your  Reverences  with  the 
defcription  of  the  beauties  of  the  country  through 
whicli  we  paifed,  havin-;^  io  much  to  fay  of  the  more 
fubftantial  part ;  that  is,  of  th  ir  form  of  government, 
Inws  and  cuftoras,  both  religious  and  civil;  nor  de- 
l<:ribe  the  prodigious  magnificence,  though  joined 
with  a  great  deal  cf  natural  fimplicity,  intheir  towns, 
temples,  fchools,  colleges,  &c.  13ecaufe,  being  built 
moltly  alijce,  exceptfor  particular  ufes,  manafiridures^ 
and  the  like  ;  I  (hall  def-cribc  them  all  in  one,  when  I 
come  to  the  great  city  of  Phor,  otherwile  called,   in 

•  See  the  remarks  before  on  that  head,  and  the  accounts 
of  die  won'liipof  the  Chinefe,wliowere  originally  Egyptians,  in 
the  difputes  between  tlie  Dominicians  and  Jcfuits  where  the 
latter  jnaintained  t!ie  idolatrous  ceremonies  and  offerings  made 
to  their  deceafed  anceftors,  to  imply  nothing  but  a  natural hnd 
civil  refpe^*  I'he  Dominicians,  on  tiic  contrary,  very 
juflly  held  thera  to  be  idolatry,  as  they  were  judged  to  be, 
and  condemned  as  fuch  by  Qenient  XI, 


124  C'AUDENTIO    DI     LUCCA. 

their  facred  language,  No-ora  :f  for  if  I  ftiould  ftay  Tt> 
dcfcribe  the  immenfe  riches,  fertility,  and  beauties 
of  the  country,  iliis  relation,  wliich  is  deiigncd  as  a 
real  account  of  a  place  wherein  1  lived  fo  many  years, 
would  rather  look  like  a  romance  than  a  true  relation. 
I  fliail  only  tell  your  Reverences  at  prefent,  that  after 
having  taken  a  mofl  magnificent  repaft,  confifting  c>f 
all  the  heart  of  man  can  conceive  delicious,  both  of 
fruits  and  wiues,  while  we  {laid  in  thole  rcfrefliing 
tubernacles,  we  palled  cnby  an  cafy  evening'*s  jour- 
ney, to  one  of  their  towns,  always  condu£led  and  lodg- 
ed in  the  fame  triumphant  manner,  till  we  came  to  the 
liCad  of  that  Nome,  which  I  told  your  Reverences 
was  the  Green  Nome,  belonging  to  the  Pophar  re- 
gent, fecond  in  dignity  of  the  whole  empire.  Here 
the  Urn  of  dud  belonging  to  that  Nome  was  repofited 
in  a  kind  of  golden  tabernacle  fet  with  precious  ftones 
of  immenfe  value,  in  the  centre  of  a  fpacious  tem- 
ple, which  I  ihall  defcribe  afterwards.  After  a 
"vveak's  feafling  and  rejoicing,  both  for  the  reception 
of  the  dull  and  the  lafe  return-  of  the  Pophar  and  his^ 
companions,  together  with  hh  exaltation  to  the  re- 
gency,  we  let  out  in  the  fame  manner  for  the  other 
Nomcs,  to  repofite  all  the  Urns  in  their  rcipciTuve 
temples.  Thefc  are  five,  as  I  informed  your  Rever- 
ences before.  The  couiitry  is  fomething  mountain- 
ous, particularly  under  the  line,  and  not  very  uni- 
form, though  every  thing  elfe  is  ;  containiii"-  vallies, 
or  rather  whole  regions  running  out  between  the  de- 
I'arts;  befides  vaft  ridges  of  mountains  in  the  heart  of 
the  country  which  intlofe  immenle  riches  in  their 
bowels.  The  chief  town  is  fituated  as  nigh  as  pollible 
in  the  middle  of  the  N©mes,  and  about  the  centre  of 

t  Jofephiis  againft  Apion,  dilhnguifhes  two  languages  of 
the  ancient  Egyptians,  the  one  facred,  the  otiier  common. 
Their  facred  language  was  full  of  myfteries,  perhaps  like  the' 
Cabala  of  the  Jews. 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCGA.  1 15 

the  country,  bating  thole  Irregularities  I  mentioned. 
The  four  inferior  Nomes  were  like  the  four  corners, 
with  the  flame-co'oured  Nome,  where  the  grand  Po- 
phar  or  regent  pro  tempore  refided,  in  the  centre  of 
the  fquare.  Their  method  was  to  go  to  the  four  in- 
ferior Nomes  firft,  andrepolite  the  Urns,  and  then  to 
conipleat  all  at  the  chief  town  of  the  firft  Nome.-*^ 
Thefe  Nomes  were  each  about  eight  days  very  eafy 
journey  over.  Thus  we  went  the  round  of  all,  which 
I  think,  as  I  then  remarked,  was  a  kind  of  political 
viiitation  at  the  fame  time.  At  length  we  came  to 
the  great  city  of  Phor,  or  No-om,  there  to  repofite 
the  laft  Urn,  and  for  all  the  people  to  pay  their  re- 
fpe<^s  to  the  grand  Pophar  if  in  being^^ior  elfe  to  the 
regent. '  By  that  time,  what  with  thole  who  accom- 
panied the-proceffion  of  the  Urns,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  that  immenfe  town,  more  people  were  ga- 
thered together  than  one  would  have  almoft  thought 
had  been  in  the  v/hole  world  ;  but  in  fuch  order  and 
decency,  diftinguifhed  in  their  ranks^  tribes,  and  co- 
lours, as  is  not  eafy  to  be  comprehended.  The  glit- 
tering tents  fpread  themfelves  over  the  face  of  the 
earth.   ■ 

I  iliall  here  give  your  Reverences  a  defcription  of 
the  town,  becaufe  all  other  great  towns  or  heads  of 
the  Nomes  are  built  after  that  model,  as  indeed  the 
lefTer  towns  come  as  nigh  it  as  they  can,  except,  as  I 
laid,  places  for  arts  or  trades,  which  are  generally 
built  on  rivers  or  brooks,  for  conveniency  j  fuch  is 
the  nature  of  the  people,  that  ihey  effeft  an  exa£l  uni- 
formity and  equality  in  all  they  do,  as  being  brothers 
of  the  fame  flock. 

The  town  of  Phor,  that  is,  the  Glory,  or  No-om, 
which  fignifies  the  lioufe  of  the  Sun,  is  built  circular, 
in  imitation  of  the  fun  audits  rays.  It  is  fituated  in 
the  largeft  plain  of  all  the  kingdom,  and  upon  the 
largcH  river,  which  is  about  a§  big  a*  gur  Pqj  riling 


126  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

from  a  ridge  of  mountains  under  the  line,  and  running: 
towards  the  north,  where  it  forms  a  great  lake,  almoS 
like  a  fea,  whofe  waters  are  cxh-.led  by  the  heat 
of  the  fun,  having  no  outlet,  or  fink  under  ground 
in  the  lands  of  the  vail  delarts  encompalling  it- 
This  river  is  cut  into  a  moft  ma2:nirKcnt  canal,  run- 
ningdireclly  through  the  middle  of  the  town.  Before  it 
enters  the  town,  to  prevent  inundations,  and  for 
other  conveniencies,  there  are  prodigious  bafons,  and 
locks,  and  fluices,  to  divert  and  let  out  the  water, 
if  need  be.  The  middle  ftrcam  forms  the  grand  canal, 
which  runs  through  the  town,  till  it  comes  to  the 
grand  place;  then  there  it  forms  another  lock  and 
lluice,  which  dividing  it  into  two  femicircles  or  wings, 
c^nd  carrying  it  round  the  grand  place,  forms  anifland 
■with  the  temple  of  the  fun  in  the  centre,  and  meeting 
again  oppofite  to  where  it  divided,  lb  goes  on  in  a 
canal  again.  There  are  twelve  bridges  with  one 
f^reat  arch  over  each,  ten  over  the  circular  canals, 
and  two  where  they  divide  and  meet  again.  There 
p.re  alfo  bridges  over  the  (Iraight  canals,  at  proper 
cVulances.  Before  the  river  enters  the  town,  it  is 
divided  by  the  firft  great  lock  into  two  prodigious 
fcmicirclcs  encompalling  the  whole  town.  All  the 
canals  are  planted  with  double  rows  of  cedars,  and 
walks  the  moil  delightful  that  can  be  imagined.  Th« 
grand  place  is  in  tlic  centre  of  the  town,  a  prodigioui 
round,  or  immcnie  theatre,  encompallcd  with  the 
branches  of  the  canal,  and,  in  the  centre  of  that,  the 
terfiple  of  the  Sun.  This  temple  confifts  of  three 
hundred  and  fixty-five  double  marble  pillars,  accord- 
ing to  the  number  of  the  days  of  the  year^,  repeated 

•  Ojr  iiuihor  ftems  to  be  a  little  out  in  this  place  ;  for  It 
is  certain,  tiie  ancient  Egyptians  did  nt^t  make  their  year  to 
confiflof  fo  many  da)  s,  unlefs  you'll  fay,tViat  thefe  people, 
Veing  very  greut  alh-onomers,  were  more  €jia<^  in  their  ob- 

irn'ation^t 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  llf 

With  three  ftories  one  above  another,  and  on  t]i>j 
top  a  cupola  open  to  the  Iky  for  the  fun  to  be  feen 
through.      The   pillars   are    all    of  the    Corintl-w'^a 
orderf ,  of  marble  as  white  as  fnow,  and  fluted^     The 
edges  of  the  flutes,  with  the  capitals  corniOied,  are' 
all  gilt.     The  inner  roofs  of  the  vaft  galleries  on  thefe 
pillars,  are  painted  with  the  fun,  moon  and  Ibars, 
expreffing  their  different  motions,v/ith  hieroglyphicks, 
known  only  to  fome  few  of  the  chief  elders  or  rulers. 
The  outfides  of  all  are  doubly  gilt,  as  is  the  dome 
or  grand  concave  on  the  top,  open  in  the  middle  to 
the  fky.     In  the  middle  of  this  concave  is  a  golden 
fiin,  hanging  in  the  vo/d^  and  fupported  by  golden  lines 
or  rods  from  the  edges  of  the  dome.     The  artificial 
lun  looks   down  as   if  it  were  fliining  on  a  globe  of" 
earth,  ere^ledona  pedeftal  altar -wife,  oppofite  to  the 
lun,  according  to  the  fituation  of  their  climate  to  that  ' 
glorious  planet ;  in  which  globe  of  earth  are  enclofed 
the  urns  of  their  deceafed  anceftors.  -'  On  tlie  infide 
of  the  pillars  are  the  feats  of  the  grandees  or  elders, 
to  hold  their  councils,  which  are  all  public.  Oppolite 
to  the  twelve  great  ftreets,  are  fo  many  entrances 
into  the  temple,  with  as  many  magnificent  ftair-cafes 

f  It  is  generally  fnppofed,  that  the  difiTerent  orders  of  pil- 
lars, as  the  Doric,  the  Ionic,  Corinthian,  &c.  came  firft  fronr 
the  Greeks,  as  their  appellations,  being  Greek,  would  make 
us  believe;  but  the  famous  aod  ancient  palace  of  Pcrfepolis, 
notwithflanding  its  Greek  name,  where  there  were  hierogly- 
phicks and  infcriptions  in  cljaradlers  none  could  unJerfland, 
befides  other  realons,  fliew   that   the   invention   came  from- 
Egypt,  or  from  the  ancient  Chaldeans,  or  ratiier  froni  Seth,, 
I^oah,  and  the  ancient  Hebrews.    It  islikewife  very  obferv- 
able,  that  the  invention  of  arts  and  fciences  came  from  ths 
eaft,  and  can  be  traced  no  higher  than  Noah's  flood  ;  unlefs 
you  will  allow  the  fables  of  Scth,  alledged  by  the  learned 
Jofephus  in  his  antiquities,  quoted  above.     All  which  is   a 
very  natural  confirmation  of  the  account  given  by  Mofe?, 
againft  oiir  modern  fce^tics* 


128  CAUDTNTIO    DI    LUCCA, 

between  the  entrances,  to  go  into  the  galleries  or 
places  where  they  keep  the  regiflers  of  their  laws, 
&c.  with  gih  baluftrades  looking  down  into  the  tem- 
ple. On  tlie  pcdcftals  of  all  the  pillars  were  engrav- 
en hieroglyphicks  andchara<ners,  known  to  none  but 
the  five  chief  Pophars,  and  communicated  under  the 
greatcfl:  lecrecy  to  the  fucccflbr  of  any  of  them  in 
cafe  of  death,  lofs  of  fenf'*s,  and  the  like.  I  prefume 
the  grand  fccrets  and  arcana  of  ftate,  aiid  it  may  be, 
of  their  religion,  arts  and  fcicnccs.  are  contained 
therein.  '1  lie  man  improper  decorations  of  the 
temple,  in  my  opinion,  are  the  flutings  of  the  pillars, 
which  rather  look  too  finical  for  the  auguft  and  ma- 
jeftic  fimplicity  afFedled  by  thefe  people  in  other  re- 
fpe<fls.  • 

The  fronts  of  the  houfes  round  the  grand  place  are 
all  concave,  or  fegments  of  circles,  except  where  the 
great  ftreets  meet,  which  are  twelve  in  number,  ac- 
cording to  the  twelve  fjgns  of  the  zodiac,  pointing 
to  the  temple  in  ftraight  lines  like  rays  to  the  centre. 
This  vad  round  is  let  with  double  rows  and  circles  of 
flatel}^  cedars  before  the  houles,  at  an  exa6l  dillance  j 
as  are  all  the  ftreets  on  each  fide,  like  fo  many  beau- 
tiful avenues,  which  produce  a  moft  delightful  effeft 
to  the  eye,  as  well  as  convcniency  of  Ihade.  The 
crofs  ftreets  are  fo  many  parallel  circles  round  the 
grand  place  and  temple,  as  the  centre ;  making  gi*ea- 
ter  circles  as  the  town  enlarges  itl'elf.  TJKiy  build 
always  circular-ways  till  the  circle  is  compleat ;  then 
another,  and  fo  on.  All  the  ftreets,  as  1  faid,  both 
flraight  and  circular,  are  planted  with  double  rows  of 
oedars.  The  middle  of  the  areas  between  the  cutting 
of  the  ftreets  are  left  for  gardens,  and  other  convcni- 
encics,  enlarging  tliemfelves  as  they  proceed  from  the 
centre  or  grand  place  :at  every  cutting  of  the  ftreets, 
is  a  lefler  circular  fpace  fet  round  with  trees,  adorned 
•with  fountains,  or  ftatues  of  famous  men ;  that,  in 
ef^Q^ij  the  whole   town  is  like  a  prodigious  garden, 


CAUDENtrO    Dr    LUCCX.  I'2'9 

diftinguifhed  with  temples,  pavilions,  avenues,  and 
circles  of  greens  ;  fo  that  it  is  difficult  to  give  your 
Reverences  a  juft  idea  of  the  beauty  of  it.    I  forgot  to 
tell  your  Reverences,   that  the  twelve  great  ftreets 
open  themfelves  as  they  lengthen,  like  the  radii  of  a 
wheel,  fb  that  at  the  firil  coming  into  the  town,  you 
have  the  proipe^l  of  the  temple  and  grand  place  direct- 
ly before  you  ;  and  frojn  the  temple  a  direCl  viev/  of 
one  of  the  fined  avenues  and  countries  in  the  world. 
Their   principal   towns  are  all  built  after  this  form. 
After  they  have  taken  a  plai^ofthe  place,  they  firft 
build  a  temple  ;  then  leave  the  great  area  or  circular 
market-place,    round   which   they  build  a  circle  of 
houfes,  and  add  others  as  they  cncreafe,  according  to 
the  foregoing  defcription  ;  ridiculing  and  contemning 
other  countries,  whofe  towns  are  generally  built  in  a 
coufufed  number  of  houfes  and  ftreets,  without  any- 
regular  figure.     In  all  the  fpaces  or  cuttings  of  the 
ftreets,  there  are  either  public  fountains  brought  by 
pipes  from  a  mountain  at  a  conftderable  diftance  from 
the  town  ;  or,  as  I    faid  before,    ftatues  of  great  men 
holding   fomething  in   their  hands   to  declare  their 
merit ;  vv^hich,  having  no  wars,  is  taken  either  from 
the  invention  of  arts  and  Icicnces,  or  fome  memorable 
action  done  by  them  for  the  improvement  and  good  of 
their  country.     Thefe  they  look  upon  as  more  lauda- 
ble motives,  and  greater  fpurs   to  glory,  than  all  the 
trophies  ere^ed  by  other  nations  to  the  deftroycrs  oF 
their  awn  fpecies.  -  Their  houfes  are  built  all  alike, 
and  low,  as   I  obferved  before,  on  account  of  ftorms 
and  hurricanes,  to  which  the  country  is  lubje^^l ;  they  • 
are  all  exaClly  of  a  height,  flat-roofed,  with  artificial 
gardens  on  the  top  of  eaclv'^',  full  of  flowers  and  aroma-  ■ 

*  The  ancient  Babylonians  had  artificial  gardens,  or  bar' 
t'l^cnfiles-i  on  the  tops  of  their  houfes,  as  early  as  the  great 
Simiraniis ;  though  Herodotus  derives  their  invention  from  a  • 
later  Babylonian  queen,  ^ho  being  ;i   Mede  by  nation,  and'"- 


rjO  -CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA, 

tic  (hrubs  ;  fo  tint  when  you  look  from  any  emi- 
nence down  into  the  ftrects,  you  ice  all  the  circles 
and  avenues  like  another  world  under  you  ;  and  ii 
on  the  level,  along  the  tops  of  the  houfcs,  you  ai'e 
charmed  with  tiie  [)rof[>eO.  of  ten  thoufuad  different 
garJt^ns  meeting  your  fight  wherever  you  turn  ;  intb- 
much»  that  I  believe  the  whole  world  befides  cannot 
aiford  fuch  a  profpe^l.  There  arc  a  gt^at  many  other 
beauties  and  conveniencies,accortling  to  the  genius  of 
the  people  ;  which,  were  I  to  mention,  would  make 
up  a  whole  volume.  {  only  f;iy,  timt  the  nches  of 
the  country  are  immenfe,  wliich  in  fome  meafure  are 
all  in  common,  as  I  l^iall  flievv  when  I  come  to  the 
nature  of  their  government.;  the  people  are  the  moll 
ingenious  and  induftrious  in  the  world  ;  the  goveiTiors 
aiming  at  nothing  but  the  grandeur  and  goud  of  the 
public,  having  all  the  affluence  the  heart  of  jnan  caa 
defire,  in  a  place  where  there  has  been  no  war  for  near 
three  thoufand  years  ;  there  being  indeed  no  enemies 
but  the  inhofpitable  lands  aj'ound  them,  and  they  all 
confider  theraielves  as  brothers  ot  the  fame  ftock, 
living  under  one  common  fathtr;  fo  that  it  is  notib 
much  to  be  wondered  at,  il  thty  are  arrived  to  liich 
grandeur  and  magnificence  as  perfons  iu  our  world  can 
Icarce  believe  or  conceive. 

When  the  ceremonies  for  the  reception  of  the  Urns 
were  over,  religious  ceremonies  with  thefe  people  al- 
ways taking  place  of  the  civil'j',  they  proceeded  to  the 

loving  woods,  and  not  being  permitted  to  go  OMt  of  tlie  pa- 
lace, had  tliofe  artificial  gardens  made  to  divert  her. 

t  i  he  mofl  polite  nuti  ns  cf  antiquity,  even  among  tl>e 
Heathens,  gave  the  preference  to  religion,  before  all  other 
confiderations :  as  for  the  Chrirtian  religion,  though  of  late 
perfons  of  fome  wit,  little  judgment,  and  no  morals,  call  it 
in  queftion,  it  is  well  tnown,  men  become  more  men  as  they 
become  ChriHians.  The  light  of  faith  brought  in  learning, 
politenefs,  humanity,  juftice,  and  equity,  inllead  cf  that  ig' 


rCAU-DENTIQ    DI    LUCCA.  I':;! 

•.inauguration   of  the   Pophar  regent,  which  was  per- 
formed with  no  other  ceremony,  for  reafon  I  fliall  tell 
your  Reverences  afterwards,but  placing  him  in  a  chair 
of  ftate,  with  his  face:  towards  the  eaft,  on  the  top 
, CI  the  highcllhill  in  the  Nome,  to  fliew  that  he  was 
to  infpect  or  over- look  all,  looking  towards  the  tem- 
ple of  the  Sun,  which  flood  direi'tly  eaftward  of  him, 
to  put  him  in  mind  that  he  was  to  take  care  of  the 
religion  of  his  anceftors  in  the  firft;  place.     When  he 
w^as  thus  placed,three  hundred  &  fixty-five  of  the  chief 
,of  the  Nome,  as  reprefentatives  of  all  the  reft,  came  up 
to  him,  and  making  a  refpe6lful  bow,    fa  id — '   Eli' 
Pophar,'  which  is  as  much  as  to  fay.  '  Hail,  father  of 
our  nation;'  and  he  embracing  them  as  a  father  does 

.his     children,   anfwered  them  with '  Cali  Be- 

>  nim,'  that  is,. '  My  dear  children.'  As  many  of  the 
woman  did  the  fame.  This  was  all  the  homage  they 
paid  him,  which  was  efteemed  lb  facred,  as  never  to 
"be  violated.  All  the  diftin£lion  of  his  habit  was  one 
great  fun  on  his  breaft,  much  bigger  than  that  of  any 
"of  the  reft.  The  precious  ftones  alfo,  which  were  fet 
in  the  wliite  fillet  binding  his  forehead,  were  larger 
than  ordinarv,  as  were  thofe  of  the  crofs  circles  over 
his  head,  terminated  on  the  fummit  with  a  larger  tuft 
,of  gold,  and  a  thin. plate  of  gold  in  the  ftiape  of  the  fun, 
faftenedto  the  top  of  it  horizontally  :  all  of  them,  both 
men  and  woman,  wore  thofe  iillct-crowns  with  tufts 
.of  gold,  but  no  fun  on  the  top,  except  the  Pophar, 

As  ibon  as  the  ceremonies  and  rejoicings  were  over, 
which  were  performed  in  tents  at  the  public  expencc, 
he  was  condu6led,  with  the  chearful  acclamations  of 
the  people,  and  the  found  of  mulical  inftruments,  to 

rorance,  and  a  brutal  barbarity,  that  overfprcad  the  face  of 
the  earth  ;  and  the  want  of  it,  will  Ijsad  us  in  time  into  the 
fame  enormities  which  religion  has  tnught  us  to  forfake  :  on 
vhich  pxcouiit  it  is  the  part  of  all.  wife  governments  to  couii* 
teuauce  and  preferve  religion. 


l-fi^l  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

a  magnificent  tent  in  the  front  of  the  %vli»>le  camp^ 
facing  the  eafl,  vvl.ich  is  looked  up  on  as  the  mofl  ho- 
nourable, as  in  ft  feeing  the  riling  kin  ;  and  fo  on,  by 
eafy  journeys,  till  he*  came  tothe  chief  town  of  that 
Nome,     The  reafon  why  ihefe  ceremonies  were  per. 
formed  in  the  different  Nomes,  was  to  fliew  that  they 
all  depended  on  him,  and  b(  caufe  the  empire  was  lo 
very  populous,  it  v»'as  impoffible  they  could  meet  at 
one  place.     I  can't   exprtl's  the  carefles   I  received 
from  thcm,efpecially  when  they  found  I  was  defcend- 
cd  from  the  lame  race  by  the  mother's  fide,  and  fo 
nearly  related  to  the  Pophar.     When  I   came  lirll: 
into  their  company,  they  all  embraced  me,    men  and. 
women,  with  the  mcil;  endearing    ttndcrnefs  ;    the 
youiig   beautiful  women  did  the  fame,    calling  me 
Brother,  and  catcliing  me  in  their  ari-tts  with  fuch  an 
innocent  aflurance,  as  if  1  had  been  their  real  brother 
lofl  and  found  agLiin.   1  can't  fay  but  fome  of  them  ex- 
prefied  a  iondnefs  fgr  me  that  feemed  to  be  of  another 
fort,  and  which  afterwards  gave  me  a   great  deal  of 
trouble  J  but  I  imputed  it  to  the  nature    of  the  lex, 
who  are  unaccountably  more  fond  of  itrangers,  whom 
they  know  nothing  of,  than  of  perfons  of  much  greater 
;  merit,  who  converie  with  tlicm  every  day.     W/  hether 
it  proceeds  from  the  want  of  a  fufhcient  lolidity  in 
llieirjudgmentjor  from  a  levity  and  ficklenefs  in  their 
nature,  or  from  the    Ipirit    of   contradiiftion,  which 
makes  ihcm  fond  of  what  they  mollly  fliould  avoid  ; 
or  thinking  that  ftrangers  are  not  acquainted  with  their 
dcfe«l\s,   or    in   fine,    are  more  likely  to  keep  their 
counfel ;  be  that  as  it  will,  their  mutual  jealoufies  gave 
me  much  uneafmefs  afterwards.     But  to  lay  a  word 
or  two  more  of  the  nature  ©fthe  people,  before  I  pro- 
teed  in  my  relation :  as.l  told  your  Htjverences,  they 
.are  the  handforaeft  race  of  people  1  believe  nature  ever 
produced,  with  this  only  difference,  v.  hi ch  fome  may 
think  a  defeat,  that  they  are  all  too  much  like  one 
another;  but  if  it  be  u  defe(St,  it  proceeds  from  a  vqyj 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA,;  I3J 

laudable  caiife ;  that  is,  from  their  fpringing  from  one 
famity,  without  any  mixture  of  different  nations  in 
their  blood*;  they  have  neither  wars,  nor  traffic 
with  other  people,  to  adulterate  their  race,  for  which 
reafon  they  know  nothing  of  the  vices  fuch  a  com- 
merce often  brings  along  with  it.  Their  eyes  ar^ 
iomething  too  imall,  but  not  lo  little  as  thofe  of  the 
Chinefe  ;  their  hair  is  generally  black,  and  inclined  to 
be  a  little  cropped  or  frizzled  f ,  and  their  complexion 
brown,  but  thtiir  features  are  the  raoil:  exad  and  regu- 
lar imaginable  ;  and  in  the  mountainous  parts,  towards 
the  line,  where  the  air  is  cooler,  tliey  are  rather  fairer 
than  our  Italians^;  the  men  ate  univerfally  well  fliap- 
ed,  tall,  and  {lender,  except  through  Ibme  accidental 
deformity,  which  is  very  rare  ;  but  the  women,  who 

*  Tacitus  fays  much  the  fame  of  the  Germans,  *  Ipfs  eo<* 
mm  of>iniQnibus  accedoy  qui  German'KS  populos  nullis 
aliarum  natlonum  conniLbiis  tnfeSlos  propriam  ^  fiiice' 
ram  ^  tanqiiam  fuifunileni  gentem  extittJD'e  arbitrantur* 

Tacitus  de  Moribus  Germanoruvn, 

*  I  agree,'  fays  he,  *  with  their  opinion,  who  think  tke 
people  of  Germany  fo  peculiarly  like  one  another,  becaufe 
they  have  not  been  corrupted  by  marriages  with  other  nati- 
ons.* They  were  noted  in  Auguflus's  time  to  havebhie  eyes, 
i\s  moft  of  the  native  Germans  have  to  this  day.  I  remem- 
ber I  faw  a  reviexv  of  a  German  regiment  in  the  city  of  Mi- 
lan, where  almoft  every  one  of  tlie  common  foldiers  had  blue 
eyes.  No  wonder,  therefore,  if  thefe  Africans  our  author 
Ipeakfi  of,  Ihoi  Id  be  fo  like  one  another. 

t  The  ancient  Egyptians,  according  to  Herodotus  and 
Bochart,  were  fo. 

:j:  Though  our  Italians  are  fomething  more  fwarthy  th:m 
tlie  northern  Tramontani ;  yet  our  ladies  keeping  much  ia 
the  houfe  from  their  childhood,  have  very  fine  jlkins,  and  ex-* 
eel  all  others  for  delicacy  of  features.  |j 

y  I  fancy  Sigaor  Rhedi  never  faw  our  Englldi  beauties, 

M 


,t-34  GAUfcENTiO    DI    LUCCA. 

keep  thcmfelvffs  nu.ch  wiOiin  c^oors,  arc  the  moftbeaii* 
liiul  creatiiiTs,  hfkI  the  finefl:  ihajKcl  in  the  world, 
except,  as  I  laid,  being  too  much  alike.  There  n 
fuch  an  innocent  iweetnefs  in  their  beauty,  and  fuch  a 
native  mo<U'fW  in  tlieir  countenance,  as  cannot  be  de- 
fcribe<l.  A  bold  forwardncfs  in  a  woman  is  what  they 
didike  ;  ard,  to  give  thert*  their  due,  evcv»  the  women 
are  tlic  moft  challc  I  ever  knew,  whicli  is  partly  owing 
to  the  early  and  provident  care  of  their  governors, 
But  as  I  delign  to  make  a  ieparatc  article  of  the  edu- 
cation of  their  young  people,  I  fliali  fay  no  more  ai 
prefent  on  that  head. 

The  vifitations  which  wc  made  to  carry  the  Ums, 
gave  mean  opportunity  of  feeing  th«  gi"eatc(l  part  of 
their  country  as  foon  as  I  came  tliere  ;  though  the 
Pophar,  wi;li  a  Icfs  retinue,  and  with  whom  1  always 
%vas,  vifited  them  more  particularly  afterwards.  The 
country  is  generally  more  hilly  than  plain,  and  in 
.fome  parts  even  mountainous^  ihere  are,  as  I  faid,  \\\i\ 
ridges  of  mountains,  which  run  feveral  hundred  luilcs, 
ciiher  under  or  parallel  to  the  equator.  Thcfe  are 
Very  cold,  fxud  contril)ute  very  mucli  to  render  tlic 
climate  more  temperate  than  migiit  othcrwife  be  ex- 
pected, both  by  rttVigerating  tlje  air  with  cooling 
ireeses,  which  air  wafted  from  thence  over  tl>e  reil 
of  the  country,  ju^dbv  fupplyingthe  plains  with  innu- 
3nera])le  rivers  running  both  norlli  and  fouth,  but 
chitflv  towards  tlie  north*.  Thefe  hills, and  the  great 
woods  they  are  generally  covered  with,  arc  the  occafi- 

•  It  is  remjirkable,  that  moft  fjmiigs  rife  from  tiie  north 
f  de  of  the  liill<;,  and  more  rivers  run  rortliward  than  foiiih- 
ward,  at  leaf!  on  this  fide  of  the  line,  though  the  obfcrvation 
does  not  always  hold  good  ;  the  realon  may  be,  for  that  there 
are  more  mlils  ai^.d  dews  lia'-'ging  on  the  north-fiJe,  becaufe 
the  fun  dries  up  the  moiOure  on  the  iouth  fide  of  the  iiioun- 
tains  more  than  on  the  north ;  though  perhaps  all  fprings  don't 
ri.e  from  rain  and  mills,  tec,  yet  moll  do. 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  ij^ 

on  of  the  country's  being  fubje<Sl  to  rains  f ;  there  arf 
va.il  forefls  and  places,  which  they  cut  down  and 
deftroy  as  they  w«int  room,  leaving  lefler  groves  (ox 
beauty  and  variety,  as  well  as  ufe  and  conveniency. 
The  rains  and  hiUinefs  of  the  country  make  travelling 
a  little  incommodious,  but  then  tl'tey  afford  numberlefs 
fprings  and  rivulets,  with  luch  delicious  vules,  that 
adding  this  to  the  honefty  and  innocence  of  the  inha- 
bitants, one  would  think  it  a  perpetual  paradife.  I'he 
foil  is  fo  prodigioufly  fertile,  not  only  in  different  forts 
of  grain,  and  rice,  with  a  fort  of  wheat  much  larger 
and  richer  in  flavour  than  any  Indian  wheat  I  ever  faw; 
but  particularly  in  an  inexhauftible  variety  of  fruits, 
legumes,  and  eatable  herbs  of  fuch  nouriiliing  juice, 
and  delicious  talle,  that  to  provide  fruit  for  fuch  num- 
bers of  people  is  the  leail  of  their  care.-  One  would 
think  the  curie  of  Adam  had  fcarce  reached  that  part 
df  the  world  ;  or  that  Providence  had  proportioned  the 
ferciiity  of  the  country  to  the  innocence  of  the  inha- 
bitants ;  not  but  the  indullry  and  ingenuity  of  the 
people,  joined  with  their  prcpetual  peace  and  red 
from  externa],  and  almoll  internal  broils,  contribute 
very  much  to  their  riches  and  fertility.  Their  vil- 
i-jiges  being  rnoiV of  them  built  on  the  rivulets  for  ma- 
nuladures  and  trades,  are  not  to  be  numbered.  Their 
hills  are  full  of  metallic  mines  of  all  forts,  with  ma- 
terials fufiicient  to  work  them  ;  fjlver  is  the  fcarceit, 
and  none  more  plentiful  than  gold  ;  it  comes  out  often 
times  in  great  lumps  from  the  mineral  rocks,  as  if  it 
v/ept  out  from  between  the  joints,  and  was  thrown  ofF 
by  tlie  natural  heat  of  the  earth,  or  other  unknown 
caufes  ;  tliis  gold  is  more  dut^tile,  ealier  to  work, and 
better  for  all  ufes,  tlien  that  wliich  is  drawn  from  the 
ore.  Their  inventions,  not  only  for  common  c,on- 
veniencies,  but  even  the  mvagnificence  of  life,  arsailo- 

t  It  is  well  known  to  the  naiyraliOs,  thnt  great  woods  and 
hills  collect  cloudi  and  vapours,  and  confequeutly  caufe  it  to 
rail!  n;cie  ip.cn.  t!un  in  otber  places. 


136  CACDENTIO    DI    LUCCAr 

rifl»ing.     When  I  fjioke  of  their  fruits,  I  fliould  hav« 
Tiiduioned  a  rmftil  iort  of  graj)c  tliat  grows  there  na- 
turally, of  which  they  make  a  wine,  (liarp  at  firfl:,  but 
w  hich  will  keep  a  great  many  years,  mcUowing  and 
improving  as  it  is  ke[.t ;  but  the  choiced  grapes,  w'hich 
are  chicliy  for  drying,  arc   cultivated  among    them, 
and  a  very  little  pains  docs  it.      'I'hcir  wines  are 
more    cordial   tli^tn    intbrliiling ;  but  a   fnudlcr  fort, 
diluted  with  water,  makes  their  conllant  drink.  I  don't 
rtm.ember  1  ever  iaw  any  horned  hearts  in  ihe  country, 
except  goats  of  a  very  large  fize,  vvhicli  f^jrve  them 
for  milk,  though  it  is  rraher  too  rich  :  decrthore  arc 
inruiTicrable,  of  more  different  kiiuis  than  are   in  Eu- 
T(     ..     There  is  a  liltlcbeaft,  leemingly  of  a  fpecies 
between  a  roe  and  a  flieep,  whole  flefli  is  the   moft 
nourifliing  and  delicious   that   can  be    talU'd ;  thefe 
make  a  diOi  in  all  their  feafts,  and  are  chiefly  reftrved 
for  that  end.     Their  fowl,  wild  arkl  tame,  make  the 
greatefl  part  oftheir  food  ;  as  to  flofli-meat,  of  which 
they  don't  eat  much,  it  being,  as  they  think,  too  grofs 
a  food.     The  rivers  and   lakes  are  ftored  with  valt 
t^uantities  of  moft  exquifite  fifli,  particularly- a  golden 
trout,  whole  belly  is   of  a  bright  fcarlct  colour,  as 
dele<flable  to  the  palate  as  to  the  eye.     They  fuppoie 
hfli  to  be  more  nourilliingand  eafier  ofdigcllion  than 
lltdi,  for  which  reai'on  they  eat  much  more  of  it;  but 
having  no  rivers  that  run  into  the  fea,  they  want  all 
of  that  kind. 

Their  horfes,  as  I  obferved  before,  are  but  fmall, 
but  full  of  mettle  and  life,  and  extremely  fwift.  They 
have  a  wild  afs  longer  than  the  horfe,  of  all  the  co- 
lours of  the  rainbow,  very  llrong  and  profitable  for 
burden  and  drudgery  ;  but  their  great  carriages  are 
drawn  by  elks  :  the  dromedaries  are  for  travelling 
overthe  fands.  The  rivers,  at  leall  in  the  plain  and 
low  countries,  are  cut  into  canals,  by  which  they  car- 
ry moll  of  their  provifions  and  effe^ls  all  over  the 
country.     This  is  only  a  imall  iketch  of  the  nature 


GAUDENTIO   DI    LUCCA.  l37 

of  the  country,  bccaufc  I  know  thefe  matters  don't 
fall  under  the  cognizance  of  your  Reverences,  fo 
much  as  the  account  of  tlieir  religion,  morals,  cuftoms, 
laws,  and  government.  Yet  I  mufl  fay  that  for  richeg, 
plenty  of  all  delicacies  of  lif»2^  manufe<Slories,  inventi- 
ons of  arte,  and  every  thing  that  conduces  to  make  ' 
ihis  mortal  (late  as  happy  as  ispoflible,no  country  in 
tlie  known  world  can  parallel  it  j  tlK3ugh  there  are 
fonje  iQconveniencies  as  your  Reverences  will  obferve 
AS  I  ^o  on  with  my  relation.  • 

Before  I  -come  to  the  remaining  occurrences  of  my 
own  life,  in  which  nothing  very  extraordinary  happen- 
ed till  I  came  away,  unlets  I  reckon  the  extraordina- 
ry happineis  I  ivas  placed  in,  as  to  all  things  of  this 
life,  in  one  of  the  moft  delicious  regions  of  the  uni- 
verfe,  married  to  the  regent's  daughter,  whofe  pi£lure 
is  there  before  you,  and  the  deplorable  lofs  of  her, 
Vv'ith  my  only  remaining  fon,  [  H<ire  he  could  not  re- 
frain from 'weeping  for  fome  time.]  as  well  as  the 
prefent  ftate  to  which  I  am  reduced  :  though  I  mufl 
own  I  have  received  more  favourable  treatment  than 
could  well  be  expelled.  -  I  fliall  give  your  Reverences 
£i  fuccin^l  account  of  their  religion, laws,  andeuftoms, 
which  are  almoft  as  far  out  of  the  common  way  of 
thinking  of  the  reft  of  the  world  as  their  country.   - 

OF    TilEliR   RELIGION. 

The  religion  of  thele  people  is  really  idolatry  in 
the  main  ;  though  as  fimple  and  natural  as  poflible  for 
Heathens.  They  indeed  will  not  acknowledge  them- 
felves  to  be  Heather.s,  in  the  fcnfc  wc  take  the  word ; 
that  is,  worlliippers  of  falfe  godb*  j  for  they  have  an 

•  This  opinion  was  very  arxi^nt,  and  came  rriginally 
from  Egypt,  where  Pythagoras  learnt  it :  though  perhaps 
.jioc  i>klug  Uils  >v.ay  of  emplftyingjt,  he  aUer<;d  it  cpite  fioin 


I^S  eAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

abhorrence  of  idolatry  in  words  as  well  as  the  Chinefc > 
but  are  idolatorsin  cfl'c<fl,  worfliii)ping  the  material  fun, 
«nd  paying  thofe  fupcrlVitioiis  rites  to  their  deceafed 
ftnccllors  ;  of  which  part  of  their  reli;;ioii  vour  Reve- 
rences have  had  a  full  account  already.  '1  hefe  peo- 
ple however  acknowledge  one  fuprcme  God,  maker 
of  all  things,  whom  they  call  El  f,  or  the  mod  high 
of  all.  This  they  fay  natural  realon  teaches  them 
from  an  argument,  though  good  in  ilfcif,  yet  formed 
sfter  a  dilTerent  way  of  arguing  from  other  people  : 
they  fay  all  their  own  wiidom,  or  that  of  all  the  wifeft 
riicn  in  the  world  jnit  together,  could  never  form  this 
glorious  world  in  all  it's  caufes  and  efTe^ls,  fo  juftly  a- 
flapted  to  it's  refpe6\ive  ends,  as  it  is  with  refpe(ft  to 
every  individual  Ipecies.  Therefore  the  Author  of  it 
n^ull  be  a  Being  infinitely  wifer  tlTtrti  all  intellectual 
beings.  As  for  the  notion  of  any  thing  producing  it- 
ll'if,  without  a  prior  caufe,  they  laugh  at,  it  and  aik 
\vhy  we  don't  fee  fuch  tfTeifls  protluced  witliout  a 
caufe  ?  Hence  they  liold  one  only  independent  caufe^ 
«uid  tliat  there  mud  be  one,  or  nothing  could  ever  be 
produced.  Though  they  make  a  god  of  the  fun,  they 
'(lont't  fay  he  is  independent  as  to  his  own  being,  but 
(hilt  he  received  it  from  this  El.  Some  of  the  wife* 
■fort,  when  I  argued  with  them,  fecmed  to  acknow- 
ledge the  fun  to  be  a  material  being,  created  by 
God  ;  but  others  think  him  to  be  a  fort  of  vicegerent^ 
by  whom  the  El  performs  every  thing,  as  the  chief 

vl.at  tbcfe  men  lieU,  whicli  is  the  lefs  irrational  of  the  two. 
Though  with  Signer  (i:<udentio*s  leave,  I  can  never  believe, 
thclewife  men  really  iicld  that  (pinion,  but  only  undeiflood 
it  allegorirally  ;  I  muft  own,  at  the  fame  time^  fome  of  th« 
.ncientsdid  hold  the  other  mttempr)cho{ls. 

t  The  OIJ  Ar-  bians  by  Al,  or  perhaps  El,  ^v.■^^n  fome- 
thing  very  grand  or  higii,  as  Al-Cair,  for  Grand  Cair  ;  Al- 
themyv  for  the  highcft  Chcmifliy,  Ac.  I  wonder  3ign^ 
lU  tdi  took  no  noucp  of  this  iii  his  reinarki* 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA,  Tjji 

inftrumental  caufe  of  all  produi^ions.  This  is  the  i*ea- 
fon  that  they  acldrels  all   their  prayers  to  the  fun, 
though  they  allow  all  power  is  to  be  referred  original- 
ly to  the  El.     The  men  look  upon  the  moon  to  be  a 
material  being,  dependent  on  the  fun  ;  but  the  women 
feem  to  make  a    goddefs  of  her,  by  reafon  of  the  in- 
fluence {he  has  over  that  fex  ;  and  foolithly  think  flie 
brings  forth  every  month  when  flie  is  at  the  full^  and. 
that  the  ftars  are  her's  and  the  fun's  children.-    They 
all  of  them  both   men   and  women,    reft  fatisfied  in 
their  belief,  without  any  difputes  or  ftudied  notions 
about  a  Being  fo  infinitely   above   them,  thinking  it 
much  better  to  adore  him  in  the  infcrutability  of  his 
elTence,  in  an  humble  fdence,  than  to  be  difputing  about 
what  they   cannot  comprehend  :  all   their  fearch  is 
employed    in  fecond  caufes,  and  the  knowledge  of  na« 
ture  as  far  as  it  may  be  ufeful  to  men. 
|_  Inquisitor,     I  hope  you  don't  deny  but  that  fome 
men  may  have  wrortg  notions  of  the  Deity,  in  which 
they  ought  to  be  fet  right  by  wifer  and  more  learn, 
ed  men  than  themfelves  ;  by  confequenceallfearchcs 
and  difputes  about  the  being  and  nature  of  God  are 
not  to  be  condemned. 
Gaudent'io,     No,  may  itpleafe  your  Reverences  ;  for 
Iprefume  you  only  underftand  me  now  as  repre- 
fenting  other  people's  opinions,  not  my  own,  which 
is  entirely  conformable  to  what  the  Catholic  church 
teaches.     I  often    told  the    Pophar,   to    whom   I 
could  fpeak  my   mind  with  all  the  freedom  in  tlie 
world,  that  as  no  mortal  man  could  pretend  to  tell 
what  belonged  to  the  incomprelienfibility  of  God's 
effence,  yet  our  reafon  obliging  us  to  believe  his 
Being  ;  it  was  neceflary,  by  the  fame  reafon,  that 
we  Ihould  be  in(lru£lcd  by  himfelf,  or  fomc  lawo-iver 
immediately   commilTioned  by  him,  left  we  fliould 
err  in  fo  material  a  point.  This  law-giver  we  Chrif- 
tians  believe  he  did  fend,  by  giving  us  his  only  Son, 
^XiQ  was  capable  of  inftruding  us  in  what  belonged 


TS6  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

to  the  eternal  Gotlhead  ;  that  he  iliJ  iK>t  only  give 
usthcjul>cil  n  oiiuns  wc  could  poiubly  lia\e,  but 
confirmed  the  truth  of  what  he  laid,  by  d'uch  figtis 
and  wonders,  as  none  but  one  lent  from  God  could 
ptrforPii, 
Jfwuhiior     Go  on.] 

When  I  faid,  they  addrefs all  lli^ii'  [)iayei5,  and  mod 
of  the   trxlernal    adions  ot"  their  worlliip,  lo  lIic  Tun, 
it  is  on  account  of  their  l>elicvit>j^him  to  be  the  phy- 
fictl  caufc  cf  tlic  pj  oduolion  of  all  thbij^s  by  his  natural 
influence;  v/hich,  tho'  the  wiier  ibrt  of  lhciii,>vhcn  you 
come  to  rciilon  more  t  loftly ,will  grant  tobc  derived  from 
t^e  Ki,  andlomctii  ihem-wiil  own  liim  to  be  a  meremr.- 
tcrial  being. moved  by  a  prior caufc, yet  tlu:  generality 
of  thtm  don't  rcflc<ft  on  tliis  ;  but  are  really  guilt)'  of 
idolatry   in  worihiping  a  mere  creature.     Nev^nl>e- 
Itis  as  to  the  moral  cfie<fls  of  the  univerfe,  or  tlie  free 
a£lions    of  m«n,  rel'[)ecl  to  equity,   jullicc,  goodnefs, 
uprightnei's,  and  tlie  like  \vhix:h  tl>ey  allow  to  be  ^)ro- 
perly  the  duty   of  rational    creatures,    and  of  much 
"Teater    confequence  than  the   phyfical  ])art  of  the 
-world  :  this  1  la)-,  \.\\q\  all  refer  to  the   iuprtme  Be- 
ing,  whole   will  it  is  they  fliould  be  mercifid,  good, 
jull,  ami  equitable  to  all,  agreeable  to  the   juft  noti- 
ons     of    the   all-wife    Author    of   their    exiilcncc, 
■whofe  iuprcme  reafon  being  incapable  ofanyii  regu- 
lar bias,  ought  to  be  the  rule  of  his  creatui-es  that  de- 
pend on  li-im,  and  are  inicmie  meafure  i>artai;er«  of  his 
]^.crfeclions.     They    confirm    this  notion  by   a  very 
proper  comparifon }  as  for  example,  to  a6t  contraiy 
tt>  the  laws  of  nature  in  phyfical   produdions,  is  to 
produce    monllrous  births,  l^vc.  io  to  a<^  conUary  to 
the  ideas  of  the  fuprcnie  reafon  in  moral  cafes  mult  be 
a  great  deformity  in  his  fight. 

I  own  I  was  charmed  with  this  natural  way  of  rea- 
foning,  and  afkedthem  iuxther,  whetl>er  they  believ- 
ed the  fupremc  Being  troubled  himfelf  about  the  mo- 
ral part  of  the  work!  or  the  free  actions  of  men  ?  'I'bey 
Icemcd  furprized  at  the  queftion,  and  ^Ikcdme,  )\lic- 


GAUDEN-TIO    Dl    LtTCCA^  I4T 

tiler  I  thought  it  was  poffible  he  fhoulcl  leave  the 
noblefl:  part  out  of  his  care,  when  he  took  the  pains 
(^that  was  their  expreffion)  to  create  tlie  lead  infect 
•according:  to  the  moft  exadl  rules  of  art  and  know- 
ledge,  be)'ond  all  that  the  art  of  man  can  come  up 
to  ?  I  a(ked  them  again,  what  were  the  rules,  which 
it  was  his  will  that  free  agents,  luch  as  man  for  in- 
ftance,  flioiikt  follow  in  the  diredion  of  their  lives  ? 
They  toll  me,  '  reafon,  juilice,  and  equity,  in  imitati- 
'  on  of  the  fupreme  rccdonin  him — For,' faid  they, ' 
'  can  you  think  the  fupreme  Being  can  approve  of  the 
'  enormous  actions  committed  by  men  ;  or  that  any 
'  vile  pracftices  can  be  according  to  the  jull  ideas  of  his ' 
'  reafon  ;  if  not,  they  muft  be  contrary  to  the  I  eil:  light 

*  of  reafon  not  only  in  God  but^man,  and  therefore  lia- 

*  ble  to  be  puniflied  by  the  juft  Governor  of  all,' 

I  fubmit  thefe  notions  to  vour  Reverences  better" 
judgment  ;  but  I  thought  them  very  extraordinary 
for  pcrfons  who  had  nothing  but  the  light  of  nature 
to  dire£l  them  :  it  is  a  pity  but  they  had  been  as  right 
in  their  more  remote  inferences  as  they  were  in  thefe 
principles.  The  fum  therefore  of  the  theoretical  part 
of  their  religion,  is — 

Firft,  That  the  El  is  the  fupreme  intelle^lual,  ra-- 
tional,  and  moft  noble  of  all  beings  ;  that  it  is  the  du- 
ty of  all  intellectual  beings  to  imitate  the  juft  laws  of 
reafon  in  him,  othcrwife  they  depart  from  the  fupreme 
rule  of  all  their  adlions,  fmce  what  is  contrary  to  the 
moft  perfect  reafon  in  God,  muft  be  contrary  to  our 
own,  and  by  confequence  of  a  deformity  hljT;]ily  blame- 
able  in  his  fight ;  all  their  prayers,  and  whatever  they 
alk  of  this  fupreme  Being  is,  that  they  maybe  juft  and 
good  as  he  is. 

Secondly,  That  the  fun  is  the  ciiief,  at  leaft  inftru- 
mental  caufe  of  their  bodies,  and  aft  other  phyhcal 
effe<^s.  Your  Reverences  know  better  than  I  can 
inform  you,  that  this  is  wrong ;  to  him  they  addrels 


14^  CAUDiNTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

thtir  pra}*«rs  for  the  prelervation  of  their  lives,  tlit' 
fruitsof  the  earth,  ike. 

'ihirclly,  l"liat  their  parents  arc  the  more  imme- 
diate inUrumtniul  caule  of  tlicir  iKUunJ  being,  wlxich 
tliey  derive  partly  from  tltt:  El,  and  partly  fromthe  fun; 
find  ihey  reverence  tl. cm  tlie  niort  on  this  account, 
as  being  the  vicegerents  ot'both,  ami  believe  tiiem  to 
be  immortul,  as  to  the  fpi ritual  or  intelleclufil  part,  and 
tonfcf|ucntly  able  and  ready  to  anill  them  according 
toilit  relj)c6l  they  Ihcw  them  by  revcreTicing  iheir 
tombirand  honouring  their  memories.  Though,  upon 
a  nicer  examination,  I  found  that  the  fuperiliiious  wor- 
ii^ip  they  pay  to  their  deceafed  anceiiors  was  as  mucii 
a  politic  as  a  religious  iniHiution  ;  bccaufe  th<:ir  g©- 
vemment  beingpatriarchal,  this  invioJablis  refp^j^lthey 
fliew  to  ihcir  parents  make*  them  obey  tlicir  eldera  or 
governors,  not  only  wiili  lire  moil  dutiful  obiervancc,  • 
but  even  withftiiiiai  lo\t  and  alacrity. 

There  are  fome  otlier  points  of  lefs  confequence, - 
and  reducible  to  thefe  three  heuds,  which  your  lle- 
verenccs  will  obferve  in  the  couri'e  of  my  relation. 
A*  for  ih«  immortality  of  the  foul,  rewards  and  jui- 
nilhmtius  in  another  life,  the)  beli<,vc  both,  tho'  they 
have  an  odd  way  of  explaining  them.-  They  fuppoie, 
U'ithout  any  helitation,  that  titc  foul  is  a  ^being  inde- 
pendent of  matter,  ns  toil's  ellcncu, having  faculties  of 
tiiinking, willing,  and  chuting,  whicli  mere  matter,  let 
it  be  Ipnn  ev*er  io  line,  and  aduated  by  ihe  quickeit  & 
the  moifc  fubtk-  motion,  can  ever  be  capable  of  ;  but 
their  notion,  of  their  pre-exiftence  with  theEl,  before 
tiiey  were  lent  into  bodies,  is  very  confwfed.  The  re- 
wards and  i^uTiiibments  in  the  next  life,  they  believe 
will  iliicflyconiiit  in  this; that  in  jiroporiicn  as  their  ac- 
tions have  been  conformable  to  the  jult  ideas  of  the  fii- 
preme  Being  in  this  life,  partaking  Itill  more  and  more 
of  his  infinite  wifdom,  fo  their  fouls  will  approach  Hill 
nearer  to  tl\e  beautiful  intelligence  of  their  divine 
niodtlin  the  next.  But  if  their  actions  in  this  life  have 


GAUDENTIO  Di    LUCCA.  1^^ 

"'been  incvonfiftcnt  with  the  lupreme  reafon  in  God,  they 
fliall  be  permitted  to  go  on  for  ever  in  that  inconfift- 
ency  and  diragreement,  till.they  become  Ibmonftrouf. 
}y  wicked  and  enormous,  as  to  become  abominable, 
even  to  thcmfelves. 


,OF      THEIR     OPINION      CONCERNIJ^G     THE     TRANSMI- 
GRATION or  SOULS,  AND  THE  SCIENCE  OF  PHY- 
SIOGNOMY. 

I  found  the  wifeft  of  them  held  the  Metempfychofis^ 
or  the  tranfmigration  of  fouls^,  not  as  a  punifliment  ia 
the  next  life,  as  forae  of  the  ancient  Heathen  philoio- 
phers  did,  but  as  apuniihment  in  this  ;  the  chief  punifli- 
tnent  in  the  next  was  explained  above.  This  transmigra- 
tion oflouls  is  quite  different  from  the  received  notion 
of  the  Vv'orld.  Inftead  of  believing,  as  the  ancients  did, 
that  the  fouls  of  wicked  8i  voluptuous  men,  after  their 
.deaths,  tranfmigratedintobcaftsaccordingtothefimili- 
tude  of  thoir  vicious  inclinations,  till,  pafhng  :hro'  one 
animal  into  another,  they  were  permitted  to  com- 
mence men  again  ;  I  fay,  theft?  people,  initead  of  be- 
lieving this,  hold  a  Metemprychofis  ol:  a  quite  diffe- 
rent nature  ;notthattheloulsof  men  enter  into  brutes, 
but  that  the  fouls  of  brutes  enter  into  the  bodies  of 
men  even  in  this  life.  They  fay,  for  example,  that 
tb.e  bodies  of  men  and  women  are  iuch  delicate  ha- 
bitations, that  the  fouls  of  brutes  are  perpetuaL 
ly  envying  them,  and  contriving  to  get  into  them  ; 
that  unlcfs  the  divine  light  of  reafon  be  perpetually 
attended  to,  thefe  biTital  fouls  fteal  in  upon  them,  and 

•  This  notion  of  the  tranfmigration  of  the  fouls  of  brutes 
into  men  and  women  in  this  life,  particularly  into  the  latter, 
xvas  not  miknown  to  the  ancients,  though  explained  fomer* 
thing  after  a  cliiTercnt  way :  witnefs  a  remaining  fragment 
«f  SiiDonides,  a  very  ancient  Greek  poet,  to  that  efled^ 


144  GAUDENTIO    Dl    LUOCA» 

chain  up'lhe  rational  foul,  fo  that  it  fliall  not  be  'able 
to  govern  the  body,  unlefs  it  be  to  carry  on  the  de- 
figns  of  the  brutal  I'oul,  or  at  bed  only  make  fome  feint 
(rfforls   to  get  out  of  it'e  ilavcry.     I  took  it  at  firft, 
that  this  fyileni  was  merely   allcgarical,  to   fliew  the 
Similitude  between  the   palfions  ol  mun  when  not  di- 
rected by  reafon,  and  thofi;  of  brutes.      But  upon  exa- 
mination, I  found  it  was  their  o|)iuion, -that  this  tJ*anl- 
migration   did  really  happen  ;  infonuicli,  that  in  my 
laft  journey  with  the  Poj)har  into  Egypt,  when  he 
faw  the  Turks,   or  other  ilrange  nations,  nay,  feve- 
ral  Armenian  and  European  ChriiHans,  he  would  fay 
to  me  in  liis  own  language.  There  goes  a  hog,  there 
goes  a  lion,  a  wolf,  a  tox,  a  dog,  itnd  the  like; ;  that  is, 
xhey  believe  the  body  of  a  voluptuous  man  is  pofTelfed 
by  the  foul  of  a  hog,  of  a  lullful  man  by  that  of  a  goar, 
ja  treacherous  man  by  that  of  a  {ox,  a  tyrannical  man 
by  that  of  a  wolf,  and  fo  of  the  reft.     This  belief  is 
'inililled  into  thtm  fo  early,  and  with  fo    much  care, 
that  it  is  of  very  great  benefit  to  keep   them   within 
the  bounds  of  reafon.      If  a  young  man   finds   himlllf 
inclined  to  any  of  thefe  paftions,  he  addrcfles  himfelf 
immediately  to  iome  pcrfon  whom  he  thinks  of  fupe- 
rior  v/ifdom,  who  aifares  him  that   the  foul  of  fojne 
,certain  brule  is  endeavouring  to  furprize  and  ca4)ti- 
vate  his  rational  foul,  and  take  poffeOion  of  it*s  i)lace. 
This  makes  tlicm  always   watchful,  and  upon  their 
guard  aguinll  tlieir  own  palfions  not  to  be  furprized  by 
iuch  a  mercilefs  eneniy.     Their  immediate  remedy  is, 
to  look  ftedfaftly  at  the  divine  light  that  fliines  with- 
in them,  and  compare  it  with  it's  original,  till  by  i\iQ 
force  of  it's  rays  they  drive  away  thofe  brutal  fouls, 
which  as  foon  as  fully  difcovered  in  their  treacherous 
attacks(for  they  come  on,  fay  they  by  Health,  not  dar- 
ing to  attack  that  divine  light  di redly)  are  eafily  re- 
puifed,  before  they  have  obtained  polil-ihon,  though 
itcoftsagreat  deal   of  pains  to  diHodge  them  when 
once  they  are  got  in.  The  fear  of  being  abandoned 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA,  I45 

to  the  flavery  of  thefe  brutal  fouls  is  fo  deeply  im- 
printed in  them  from  their  infancy,  that  they  look 
•upon  the  temperance  and  regularity  of  thtir  lives  to 
be  in  a  great  meafure  owing  to  this  do6lrine.  The 
rfame  notions  hold  with  their  women  ;  into  whom 
:  their  mothers  and  governeires  infliil  them,  as  the  wife 
-men  do  to  the  men  ;  only  they  believe  the  brutal  fouls 
that  enter  into  women  are  of  a  different  fpecies  front 
thofe  that  enter  into  men.  They  fay,  for  inftance, 
that  of  acameleon  makes  them  falfe  and  inconilant  ; 
■that  of  a  peacock,  coquettiQi  and  vain  ;  that  of  a  ti- 
grefs,  cruel  and  ill  natured  ;  and  fo  of  the  reft.  They 
.add  another  difference  between  men  and  women,  that 
<when  thefe  brutal  (ouls  are  entered  into  them,  they 
ca^e  much  harder  to  be  driven  out  from  them  than 
from  the  men  ;  befides  that  thele  brutal  fouls  will  lurk 
^ndifcovered  in  women  a  great  while,  and  are  often 
fcarce  difcernlble,  till  the  age  of  five  and  twenty  or 
-thirty  ;  whereas  in  moll  meivitdifcovers  itfelf  prefent- 
.Jy  after  its  entrance. 

It  was  on  account  of  this  do<^rine,  as  I  found  by 
repeated  obfervations,  that  they  were  fo  addicted  to 
the  ftudy  of  Phyfiognomy,  laying  down  rules  to  know 
by  the  countenance,  the  lines  of  the  face,  and  un- 
iguarded  looks  of  men,  whether  the  brutal  foul  has  got 
poffeifion  or  not,  in  order  to  apply  proper  remedies. 
This  fcience,  however  uncertain  and  doubtful  amon<T 
dhriftians,  (who  have  greater  ai3iftance  of  grace  and 
virtue  to  refill  their  palRons,  thofe  treacherous  in- 
vaders) is  brouf^lit  to  greater  perfc6lion  andcerditude' 
than  one  would  imagine,  among  fuch  of  thefe  people 
who  having  no  fuch  helps,  take  little  care  to  cultivate 
and  moderate  their  vicious  inclinations,  unlcfs  they 
-arc  apprized  and  forewarned  of  the  danger.  There- 
fore their  wife  men,  whenever  they  come  in  company 
of  the  younger  fort,  conlider  attentively  with  thcra- 
fdves  all  the  lineaments  of  the  countenance,  com- 


14^  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

plcxions,  ^notions,  habit  of  boJy,  conllitiuion,  tot>e  of 
tb.e  voice,  make  and  turn  of  the  face,  nofc,  cars,  &c, 
but  particularly  tliey  obfen*^  the  Rru«riure  and  glances 
of  the  eye,  with  hinumerftble  figns  proceeding  from 
it,  bv  wliich  they  prtttnd  to  dii'co\er  thofc  paiTiuns, 
3  lay,  tlicy  pretend  to  know  by  thel'c  whnt  brutJU 
ibul  lays  ficge  to  the  rational  foul,  orwhctlier  it  has 
iilrcadv  taken  poflbflion  of  its  poft.  If  they  are  rtrai>- 
gers,  tlK'V  prudently  take  oare  to  avoid  their  compa- 
ny, or  at  Itall  are  on  their  guard  not  to  have  any  deal- 
ings with  ihcra  in  matters  obnoxious  to  tlic  brutal 
foulthcy  think  them  podelfed  by.  But  if  the  perfon 
attacked  by  thefe  brutal  fouls  be  of  their  own  nation, 
they  immediately  forewarn  fuch  to  be  on  his  guard, 
by  which,  and  the  dread  they  have  entertained  from 
their  youth  of  thefe  brutal  enemies,  they  are  kept  in 
fuch  order,  that,  as  I  faid,  I  never  faw  fuch  moral 
people  in  my  life.  The  vvorft  is,  they  are  extremely 
inchned  to  be  proud,  and  have  too  great  a  value  for 
tlicmfelves,  deipiling  in  their  hearts  all  ether  nations, 
as  if  they  were  notbiag  but  brutes  in  human  Ihape*. 
However,  their  wife  men  take  as  much  care  as  poffi- 
bie  to  correct,  this  fault,  as  far  as  the  ignorance  of  the 
law  of  grace  will  allow  ;  by  putting  them  often  in 
mind  of  the  miferies  and  infirmities  of  human  life, 
which  being  real  evils,  muft  be  in  puniiliment  of  fome 
fault;  that  the  moil  perfe(ftare  liable  to  death,  which 
makes  no  dillinilion  between  them  and  the  red  of  the 
workb  Be  fides,  humiiit)',  and  a  commlferation  for  the 
defe^ls  of  others,  is  one  of  the  rays  of  the  Divine 
light  that  is  to  guide   them.     I'roai  I'ucli  doc-u-ujents 

•  'Hie  Chinefe,  whom  I  hasre  proved  to  be  defcended 
from  the  fiifl  Egyptians,  are  liibjtcl  to  the  lii;e  pride  and 
contempt  of  oihcr  people,  laying  tliat  all  oihcr  nations  bave 
but  one  eye,  whereas  nature  has  .given  tl tern  two  :  Hgnify- 
ing  thereby,  how  much  wifcr  tliey  thiiil;  themfelves  thaji 
other  men. 


GAUDENTIO    DI  LUCCA.  v  14^ 

find  Inftrudions  of  the  wifcr  fort,  thoiigli  they  do  not 
care  to  have  any  correfpondence  with  other  people* 
feeing  them  fo  poflelTed  with  thofe  brutal  fouls,  yet 
they  are  a  moft  courteous  and  compaffionate  people 
in  all  their  behaviour* 

OF   THEIR   LAWS    AND    CUSTOMS, 

Over  and  above  what  hns  been  faid  already  of  the 
nature  and  cuftom  of  thefe  people,  I  fliall  here  ob- 
iicrve  that  their  laws  are  very  few  in  number  ;  but 
then  they  are  prodigiously  exa6l  in  the  obfervancc 
of  them.  I  have  oftcni  heard  the  Pophar,  contrary 
to  his  cullom,  make  very  fevere  refieclions  on  the  law- 
yers of  other  countries,  who  make  laws  upon '  laws, 
and  add  precepts  upon  precejHs,  till  the  endleis  num- 
ber of  them  makes  the  fundamental  part  to  belorgot- 
ten  ;  leaving  nothing  but  a  confufed  heap  of  explana- 
tions ;  which  may  caufe  ignorant  people  to  doubt, 
v/"hether  there  is  really  any  thing  meant  by  the  lawsi,  or 
not.     '  If  I  forbid  my  fon,'  fays  he,  ''  to  do  any  wron^ 

*  to  any  one,  what  need  is  there  of  reckoning  up  all 
'  the  particulars  by  which  a  perfon  may  be  wronged? 
'  Shew  but  the  facl  on  both  tides,   any  man    of  fenfe 

*  and  equity  can  tell^  if  there  be  any  wrong  done.— 

*  For  It* you  multiply  an  infinity  of  circumllances,  it 
'  will  be  much  more  difficult  to  decide  what  is  right, 
'  or  what  is  wrong,  than  if  you  prqcifely  and  abfolute- 
'  ly  forbid  all  injury  whatibcver.'  It  is  alraoft  in- 
credible, with  what  nicety  and  equity,  and  how  foon, 
their  judges  determine  the  fewdifputes  they  have  a- 
mong  them.  To  weigh  the  merits  of  the  caufe  by 
the  weight  of  the  purfe,  would  be  counted  by  them 
one^of  the  greatefl  enormities.  There  are  no  courts 
fordifputes  of  this  nature;  all  is  done  by  laying  the 
cafe  before  their  public  affemblies,  or  before  any  one 
or  two  prudent  and  juft  men  ;  and  the  affair  is  finally 
decided  at  once.     All  the  law  for  Mcum  and  Tuuiii 


14^  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA, 

among  them  is — *  Thou  flialt  do  no    wrong  to    rtTjy, 

*  one,'   williout   entering  into  any  further  niceties.* 
'  Sucli  explanatory  iuppofitions,'  lay  they,  '  oftener 

*  fliew  people  how  th'jy  may  ingenuoufly  contrive  to 

*  do  an  injui  y,  than  liow  to  avoid  it.' 

Their  laws  therefore  are  notliing  but  the  firfl  prin- 
ciples of  natural  juftice,  explained  and  applied  by  the 
ciders,  in  the  public  hearing  of  all  who  have  a  mind 
10  come  in  when  the  fufls  are  brought  into  difpute. 

The  worfliip  of  the  Deity,  and  tiiat  exceflive  and  e- 
ven  fuj)er(litious  reverence  they  pay  to  their  parents, 
both  alive  and  dead,  is  fo  carefully  inculcated  to  them 
from  their  infancy,  that  there  is  no  need  of  atiy  writ- 
ten law^  to  enforce  it.  'I'hcy  look  on  a  man  to  be  pof- 
I'eJTcd  with  fome  brutal  foul,  who  fliould  pretend  to 
call  in  queftion  or  negle<n.  this  duty. 

There  is  a  pofitive  law  among  them,  not  to  flicd- 
human  blood  voluntarily. 'j*     They  carry    this  funda- 
mental law  of  nature  to  luch  a  height,  that  they  never 
put  any  one  to  death,  even  for  murder,  which   very 
rarely  happens  ;  that  is  once  in  fcvcral-ages.     If  it 

t  Thefe  people  defcending  from  Mlfraim,  ulio  might  • 
know  the  Patnarch  Noab,  and  ir.igin  Ir.we  learnt  by  tradition  • 
li.e  punidimcnt  of  Cain  for  the  murder  of  his  brother  Abel, 
carried  that  opinion  to  an  excefs.  Re  thefe  people  >vho  they 
■will,  or  not  be  nt  all,  1  cannot  but  obferve  how  inexcufabie 
the  witkednefs  of  men  was  frowi  the  beginning,  without 
bLm.ing  God,  as  fome  libertines  do,  for  leating  them  in  ig- 
norance. 

The  wicked  Ham,  or  Claam,  was  in  the  ark  widi  Noah, 
and  lived  many  years  before  the  dflugc,  (the  truth  of  wliich 
is  attefled  by  ancient  hiflory,  as  wdl  as  by  facrcd  Scripture) 
and  law  the  dreadful  puni'hmcnt  inflic\ed  on  the  world  for 
fm  ;  could  not  he  have  learnt  godlinefs,  and  the  reward  for 
it,  of  his  father  Noah  ?  Gould  not  Ham  have  taught  his 
own  children,  they  theirs ;  and  fo  on?  But  they  corrupted 
their  own  ways,  and  thereby  (kcwed  the  ncceflity  of  a  re- 
yelation. 


GAUDKNTIO    DI    LUCCA.  I49 

afppears  that  a  perfon  has  really  murdered  another,  ^ 
thing  the)  think  aimoft  impoffible,  the  peribn  c-onvi6led 
is  fhut  up  from  all  commerce  of  men,  with  provifion 
to  keen  him  alive  as  Ions;  as  nature  allows.  After  hi 
death,  the  fa6l  is  proclaimed,  as  it  was  when  they  fliit 
him  up,  over  all  the  Nomes.  His  name  is  blotted  ont 
of  their  genealogies  ;  then  his  dead  body  is  mangled 
juft  in  tlie  lame  manner  as  he  killed  the  innocent,  and 
afterwards  burnt  to  aflies,  which  ar<j  carried  up  to  the 
higheft  pjirt  of  the  defarts,  and  then  toffed  up  into  the 
air,  to  be  carried  away  by  tlie  winds  blowing  from 
their  ovrn  eountrv  :  nor  is  he  ever  more  to  be  reckon* 
ed  as  one  of  their  race  ;and  there  is  a  general  mourn-. 
ing.obferved  throughout  the  kingdom  for  nine  days. 
There  isalfo  an  exprefs  law  againft  adultery  and 
whoredom,  which  are  likewiie  nuniflied  after  death. 
If  perfone  are  caught  in  adultery,  they  are  (hut  up  a- 
p3rt  till  death  ;  then  they  are  expofed  naked  as  they 
were  furprized,  and  the  body. of  the  woman  treated 
aft^r  the  moft  ignominious  manner  for  three  days. — 
After  which  they  are  burnt,  and  their  aQies  difperfed 
as  before.*"  Whoredom  is  only  puniflied,  in  the  man, 
by  chaining  him  to  a  be^goaP^  and  the  woman  to  a 
salt  bitchy  and  lead  them  tlius  round  the  Nome.  All 
in  the  refpe6"bive  Nome,  men  and  women,  are  to  be 
prefent  at  the  mere  fignal  punifliments,  and  parents 
are  obliged  to  explain  to  their  children  the  wicked- 
nefs  and  horror  of  the  crime,  for  a  warning  for  the  fu- 
ture. I  forgot  to  tell  your  Reverences,  -that  if  the 
womQ4i  brings  forth  by  adultery,  the  child  is  preferved 
till  able  to  be  carried  with  them  when  they  go  into 
E^'pt,  and  there  given  to  fome  ftrangcr,  with  ample 

*  See  the  learned  BlHiop  of  Meaux's  Univerfal  Hiflory, 
coiKeviiing  the  JSgyptiAus,  Par.  lii,  ai:d  of  their  punilhments 
after  deaili. 

N   2, 


150  CAUDINTIO    DI    LUCCA," 

jirovifion  for  its  maintenance,  but  never  to  be  heard 
of  more.f 

There  is  alfo  one  particular  I  fliould  have    menti- 
oned, relating  to  injudice.     If,  for   example,  the  el- 
ders   find  there  has  been  any  confiderable  injuftice 
done,  the  criminal  is  obliged  to  reftore  nine  times  the 
value.     If  any  one  be  convicted  to  have  impofedupoa 
the  judges,  he  is  to  be  fent  out   to    the  Ikirts  of  the 
country,  to  live  by  liimfelf  for  a  time  ])roportionable 
to  his  guilt,  with  a  mark  on  his  forehead,  for  all   per- 
foiis  to  avoid  him,  Icll;  he  fliould  iniVd  his    principles 
into  others.     All  other  matters  are  regulated  rather 
by  cuflom  than  by  laws,  v-hich  will  be    feen  when  I 
come  to  the  form  of  their  government,  and  other  par- 
ticular inJlitutions. 

OF    THEIR    FORM    OF    GOVERNMENT. 

Their  form  of  their  government,  as  I    had  the  ho- 
nour to  acquaint  your  Reverences  before,  is  patriar- 
chal, which  they  preferve  inviolably,  being  the  moll 
.tenacious  people  in  tb.e  world  of  their  primitive  infti- 
tutions.     But  the  order  of  the  fuccelHon  is  extremely 
parti»iular.  In  order  to  keep  up  the  quality  of  brother- 
iiuod  and  dignity  as  exa£l  OS    they   can.     Your  Rev- 
erences, I  prefume,  remember  that  they   all  fprung 
'    from  one  family,  (and  lived  as  fuch  when  they    were 
diiven  out  of  Egypt)  the;  head   of  which  was  prieft 
of  the  Sun.     This  government  they  had  obfcrved  e- 
ver  fince  Mifraim  took  pofleirion  of  that  land  for  his 

t  With  our  author's  leave,  tliis  is  not  fuch  a  juH  and 
conip'iflionate  part,  to  turn  iiuiocent  children  out  among  peo^ 
pie  whofe  cufloms  thqy  had  fuch  a  horror  of,  only  for  their 
parents'  faults.  For  though  the  maxim  be  good,  Beware. a 
Breed  ;  yet  the  care  they  took  of  their  youth,  and  the  mo- 
ral inllruflion  they  gave  ihepi;  might  iiiiikc  theRi  abhor  tht 
crimes  of  their  pc^rems,. 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  ^   t^f 

habitation.     But  when  they  were .  fecured  from    aU 
the  world  in  the  firft  vald,  as  was  mentioned  before, 
they  eftabliQied  that  form  of  government  after  a  par- 
ticular manner.     I'he  iirit  Popbar  fettling  in  that  val«' 
with  his  five  fons,  and  as  many  daughters,  with  their 
hufbaads,  gaverned  them  during  life,  as  father  or  pa-? 
triarch  of  them  all.     Their  prodigious  veneration  for. 
their  parents,  and  leparation  from  all   othsr   people, 
render  this  form  infinitely  more  pra(5licable-.  than  can»  \ 
well  be  imagined.     As   they  a  were  children  of  one^ 
mail,  the  intereft  of  the  whole  was  the  intereft  of  e- 
very  particular.     AU  the  nation  of  the  firft  tranfmi-* 
gration  were  children,  grand-children^  or  great  grand-* 
cliildren  of  the  good  old  man  who  condu6led.  them  thi-  • 
ther.  .  Having  no  wars,  nor  voyages  at  fea,;  nor  com% 
merce  with  the  diflempers  as  well  as  vices  of  other 
nations,  who  generally  differ  in  their  way  of  living  as 
well  as  their  climate;   having  nothing  of  this,   I  fay, 
to  dellroy  their  people,  they  not  only  increafed  pro- 
digioufly,.  without  plurality  of  wives,  but  by  that  and 
their  almofl  primitive  way  of  living,  they  preierved 
their  lives  to  a  great  old  age,  mofl  of  them  living  a- 
bove  a  hundred  years,  and  Ibme  above  a  hundred  and 
fifty.     The  firflPophar  (fay  their  memoirs)  lived  till 
an  hundred  and-fifty-five,, and  his  eldeft  fon  his  fuc- 
ceffor,  more  robuft  ftill,.to;a  hundred  and  fixty.    Pre- 
fently  after  his  eilablifliment  in  the  firft  vale,  he  di- 
vided his  fmall  dominions  ,into  five   Noines,  or  go- 
vernments, under  his.  five  fons,  as  was    obferved  be- 
fore.    All  were  to  be  fubordinate  to  the  eldeft  ;  but 
it  was  on  a  patriarchal   fubordination,  relating  to  tlie 
whole.     The  other  governors,  and  indeed  all  fathers 
of  famihes,  were  eatire  minifters  of  the  laws  in  their 
refpedlivQ  famiUes  ;  but  thefe  laft.were  liable  to   the 
infpe£li®n  ot  the  more  immediate  fuperiors,  and  all  to 
that  of  tlie  grand  Pophar,  aiiifted  with  fuch  a  numbe.r 
of  counfelbrs  as   were  eftablilhed  afterwards.     To 
give  your  Reverences  a  mQA'e  diftin^  idef^of  this  woo- 


t^T  CAUDENTTO    DI    LUCCA. 

derful  government,  it  will  comr  much  to  the  fame, 
whether  we  defccnd  from  the  chief  Pophar  to  every 
i^fpedive  family,  or  from  thefe  upwards.  The  par- 
ticularities of  the  fucccflion  I  fliall  confulcr  afterwards. 
However,  it  will  be  eafierfeen,  if  we  take  tl>em  when 
their  numbers  were  net  fo  great,  at  the  firlt  bcginnii>g^ 
of  their  eiUbiifhment. 

The  Pophar,  then,  having  diftinguifhed  the  hourkls 
of  eveinr'Nomo,  I  mean  in  their  firfi  tranimigration, 
eacli  ion  took  pofTefiion  of  it  for  himl<;lf  and  pollerity. 
While  each  lon^s  cfiildren  were  unmarried,  they  con- 
tinued under  thi  go-vernment  of  their  father,  who 
made  ufe  of  as  much  land  as  was  iufficienl  for  the  con- 
A'^niencics  and  pleailires,  as  well  as  tiie  neceflaries  of 
life.  But  as  foon  as  any  fon  was  married,  or  at  leail: 
when  he  could  be  called  a  father  of  a  family,  the  fa- 
ther, with  confent  of  the  Pophar,  allotted  him  like- 
wife  a  fufficient  quantity  for  the  fame  end :  fo  they 
fpread  and  enlarged  themfelves  as  it  were  from  the 
centre  to  a  farther  extent,  much  in  the  lame  manner 
as  they  build  their  towns,  till  they  had  occupied  the 
•whole  Nome.  Here  you  will  lay,  theic  people  muH 
in  proc^fs  of  time  increafe  ad  infinitum^  without  lands 
fufficient  to  maintain  them.  This  was  really  the 
tale  in  the  firft  plantation,  which  was  fo  entirely  oc- 
cupied by  them,  that  if  the  famous  Pophar,  who 
brought  them  into  the  vaft  continent  they  now  enjoy, 
had  not  made  that  glorious  difcovery  with  the  danger 
of  liis  life,  they  muft  have  returned  into  Kgypt,  or  eat 
up  one  another  ;  but  where  they  are  at  preicnit,  they 
have  room  enough,  notvvithftnnding  their  numbers, 
for  feveral  ages.  However,  I  often  reprefented  to^ 
the  Pophar,  that  it  muft  come  to  that  at  lalt ;  tlic 
thought  made  him  uneafy  at  firft,  and  at  length  put 
him  on  a  further  diicovery,  as  your  Reverences  will 
fee  in  the  fequel.  But  fuch  vaft  numbers  of  them  be- 
taking themfelves  to  arts  aiid  manufa<^ures,  and-  the 
country  l^in^  fo  prodi^iottfly  fertile,  there  "cIqcs  m% 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  153 

Appear  art y  grcat'difficulty  in  that  refpe^.  Of  all  arts, 
they  look  upon  agriculture  as  the  firftiii  dignity,  next 
to  the  liberal  fciences,  fince  that  nouriflies  all  the  reft ; 
but  it  comes  fo  eafily,  and  tlie  fruits  and   legumes  are 
fo  rich  and  delicibus,  that  they  have  little  more  trou- 
ble thai\  to  gather  them :  befides,  having  two  fummers 
and  two  fprings,,  each    different  feafon  produces    its 
peculiar  fruits.     But  to  return  to   the  idea  of  their 
government,  each  father  of  a  family  governs  all  his  " 
defcendants^  married  or  unmarried,  as  long  as  he  lives.  ' 
If  his  fons  are  fathers,  they  have  a  fubordinate  power 
under  him  ;  if  he  dies  before  he  comes  to  fuch  an  ase.  ' 
the  eldeft  fon,  or  the  eldeft  uncle,  takes  care  of  them, 
till  they  are  fufficienttofet  up  a  family  of  themlelves.  • 
The  father,  on  extraordinary  occafions,  is  liable  to  be 
infpecled  by  five  of  the  moft  prudent  heads  of  that  dif- 
trid;  thefe  by  five  of  the  five  adjacent  diftri«£ls  chofen 
by  comaion  confent ;  thefe  laft,  by  the  heads    of  the 
five  Nome?,  and  all  the  Nomes  by  the  Grand  Popha'r 
affifted  with  three  hundred  and   fixty-five  elders   or 
fenators,  chofen  out  of  every  Nome.     What    is    moft 
particular  in  this  government  is,  that  they  are  all  ab- 
Iblute  in  fome  manner,  and  independent,  as  looking  on 
themfelves  as  all  equal  in  birth  5  yet  in  an  entire  de- 
pendency of  natural  fubordination  or  elderfliip,  which 
runs  through  the  whole  oeconomy,  as  your  Reverences 
will  fee  when  I  come  to  the  fucceifion.  •  They  are  in 
the  fame  manner  lords  and  proprietors  of  their   own 
pofTefiions, yet  the  Pophar  and  governors  can  allot  and 
difpofe  of  all  for  the  public  emolument    becaufe  they 
look  on  him  to  be  as  much  the  father  of  all,  as  the  im- 
mediate natural  father  is  of  his  proper  children,  and  - 
even  in  fome  fenfe  their  natural  father  by  right  of  el- 
derfliip, becaufe  they  fprung  originally  from  one  man,  • 
whom  the  Grand  Pophar   reprcfents.     To  this,  that 
natural,  or  politic,  or  even  fuperftitious  refped  they 
fliew  to  their  parents,  contributes  fo  much  that  they 
never  difpute,  but,  on  the  contrary,  revere  the  regu-  " 


rf^J^  GADDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

lutions  made  by  their  fiiperiors  ;  being  fati-fied  that 
they  ai'e  not  only  juft  and  good,  but  thrit  it  is  their 
own  adl,  fmce  it  is  done  by  virtue  of  a  Tubordination 
to  wliich  tlicy  all  belong. 

ThiC  l\jcrtllion  of  eldcrfliip  -has  fomething  very 
particular,  and  even  intrkate  in  it.  To  cxf>reis  at 
the  fame  time  the  lupcriority  of  the  elder  fon,  and 
theequality  of  independence,  I  fliail  endeavour  to  ex- 
plain to  your  Reverences,  as  well  as  I  can,  the  right 
thereof.  The  eldctl  fonof  the  firil  Pojihar  is  always 
Grand  Pophar,  when  ho  is  of  age  to  govern,  wiiich,  as 
J  faidyis  at  ft  "ty  at  fooneft ;  but  if  the  dire^Tt  line  fails, 
rot  the  uncle's  {on,  nor  any  one  in  that  Nbme,  but 
the  right  heir  of  the  next  Nome;  and  fo  of  all  the 
five  Nomcs.  If  they  ihouid  fail  in  all  the  Nomes,  the 
ri^ht  heir  of  thefecond  fon  of  th®  firtl  Nome,  and  fo 
of  ail  the  rcit.  This,  thty  fay,  has  happened  fevfcral 
times  fince  iheir  firllcltablilliment,  which  is  not  much 
to  be  v/ondcred  at,  if  they  are  i"o  ancient  as  they  pre- 
tend. Thus,  though  the  Grand  Pophirlhip  be  confin- 
ed to  the  eldell:  in  foinefenfe,  in  eifec^  it  belongs  ta 
tlicmaU;  but  if  the  next  heir  be  a  minor,  as  he  is 
always  judged  to  be  till  he  is  fifty  years  of  age,  the 
elduit  of  that  age,  of  the  fccond  Ion  of  the  next  Nome, 
isiregent  till  the  heir  be  out  of  his  minority,  and  lb 
o!i;  infomuch  that,  in  order  to  divide  the  fuperiority 
among  them  as  equally  as  poilVble,  he  who  has  the 
nenct  right  to  the  Grand  Pophar,  is  never  to  be  re- 
gemt.  All  other  public  ot^icers,  teachers  of  arts  and" 
Iciences,  overfecrs  of  all  the  public  employ^^cnts,  &c. 
arc  conllituted  by  the  Grand  Pophar  and  Sanhedrim, 
withallociates  of  every  Nome. 

MORE    PARTICULARS    OF    TIlBIR    PUBLIC 
/  ECONOiNlY. 

Though,  as  I  faid,  the  Pophar  is  in  fome  fenle  the 
proprietor  of  the  whole  country,  as  head  of  tlie  go- 


^AUDEWrrO    DT    LUCGA.  1 55 

;V€ni!ti<;nt  -and  chief  patriarch ;  yet  the   paradox  of 
,this  government  confifh^  in  this,  that  they  are  joint 
lords,  acknowledging  no  inequality,  but  merely  elder- 
ihip,  and  the  refpe^l  due  to  dignitaries,  which  they 
efteem  as   their  own,   or  redounding  to  themfelves, 
becaufe  they  all  give  their  conient  to  their  ele6lion 
■for  the  |xiblic  good.      In  a  word,  the  whole  countiy 
is  only  one  great  family   governed  by   the   laws  of 
nature,  with  proper  officers,  conftituted  by  the  whole, 
for  order  and  common  prefervation.     Ev-ery  indivi- 
<lual  looks  on  himielf  as  si  part  of  that  great  family. 
The  Grand  Pophar  is  the  common  father,  efteeming 
all  the  reft  as  children  and  brothers,  calling  them 
univerfally  by  that  name,  as  they  all  call  one  another 
brothers,  bartering  and  exchanging  their  commodities 
as  one  brother  would  do  with  another  ;  and  not  only 
fo,  but  they  all  join  in  building  their   towns,  public 
places,  fchools,  &c.  laying  up  all  the  ftores  and  provi- 
Tions,  over  and  above  the  prefent   confumption,  in 
public    places,  for  the  ufe  of    the  whole,    with  over- 
■Jeers   and   infpe61;ors,  conftituted   by   common   con- 
fent,  who  are  to  take  care  chiefly,  that  no  diforder  be 
committed.     Thus  every  one  contributes  to  all  pub- 
lic expences,    fcafts  ,  and  the  like,  which  on  fome  oc- 
cafions  are  extremely  magnificent;  affe£ling  external 
grandeur  in  all  refpe^ls.    Thus  alfo  every  man,  where- 
ver he  goes,  enters  into  what  houfe  he  pleafcs,  as  if  it 
were  his  own  home  ;  this  they  are  doing  perpetually 
thoughout  the  whole    country,   rather   vifiting  than 
merchandizing;   enchanging  the  rarities  of  each  ref- 
pedive  place  with  thole  of  ctlier  parts,  juft  like  friends 
making  prefents  to  one  another  ;  lb  that  all  the  roads 
are  like  fti-eets  of  great  towns,  with  people  going 
backwards  and  forwards  perpetually.  They  do  this  the 
*more  frequently  to  keep  up  a  correfpondence  between 
the  Nomes,  left  diftance  of  place  (liould  caufe  any  for- 
getfulncfs  of  their  being  of  one  family.     The  plenty 
of  the  country  affords  tliera  every  thing  that  nature 


.15-^  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

can  call   delightful,    and   that  with   fudi  eafe,  thj^C 
.infinite    numbers  arc   employed  in   trades    and  arta, 
according  to  their  genius  or  inclinations  ;  which,  by 
.their  continual  peace  and  plenty,  their  long  eftabliQi- 
ment  in  one  country,  and  under  one  form  of  gov«ni- 
ment,  the  natural  ingenuity  of  the  people,  the  lb  early 
,3cnowlcdge  of  arts,  which  thqy  brought  wiih  them  out 
of  Egypt;  by  the  improvements  their  wile  men  make 
3n  them  from  time  to  time  ;  and  from  what  they  learn 
when  they  pay  their  vifits  to  their  deceafedanceftors, 
they  have    brought  to  prodigious  pcrfefiion.     One 
may  fay  ofthcm,  thr.t  they  are  all  mafters,  and  all 
fervants;  every  one  has  employment ;  generally  fpeak- 
.  ing,  the  younger  fort  wait  on  the  elders,  clianging 
.their  ofliccs  as  is  thought  proper  by  their  fupcriors, 
.as  in  a  well-regulated  community.     All  thtii  children 
.  imiverfally     are    taught  at    the    public  expcnce,  as 
children  of  the  government,  without  any  diflin(^ion 
but  that  oi perj07ial merit.     As  the  perfons  deputed 
for  that  end  judge  of  their  genius,  or  any  particular 
inclination,  they  are  difpofed  afterwards  to  thole  arts 
and  callings  for  whic  h  they   fecm  mod  proper ;    the 
moft  iubiijiie  fciences  are  tlie  moll  in  relped  with 
them,  and  are  chiefly  the  employment  of  their  greajt 
men  and  governors,  contrary  to  the  cuflom  of  other 
countries;  the  rcalbn  of  which  is,  bccaufe  thele  being 
never  chofen  till  they  are  filty  years  of  age,  they  have 
had  mere  time  to  improve  thenifelves,  and  generally 
are  perfons  ot  more  cxtcnfivc  capacities.    Tliey  right- 
Jy  fuppofe,   that  perfons  who  excel  oiliers  in  the  moU 
rational  fciences,  are  not  only  fitted  to  govern  araii- 
onal  people,  but  alio   mofl   capable  of  making   th^- 
felves  mailers  of  what  they  undertake  ;  not  but  fucU 
men,  knowing  tlie  governors  are  chofen   out  of  that 
rank,   have  an  e}e  in  their  ftudies   to  the  rules  and 
arts  of  governing,  which  are  commup.icated  at  a  dil- 
tance  by  them,  according  to  the  talents  they  remark 
in  the  lubjecls.     They   do  not  do  iliis  out  pf  .any 


1 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  I57 

fpirit  of  ambition,  employments  being  rather  an  ho- 
norary trouble  than  an  advantage,  but  for  the  real  good 
of  the  whole.  Agriculture,  as  I  laid,  has  the  next 
place  in  honour  after  the  liberal  arts  ;  and  next  to  that, 
,thofe  arts  are  mod  efteemed  which  are  mod  neceifary ; 
.the  laft  of  all  are  thofe  which  are  of  leaft  ufe,  though 
perhaps  flie  moft  delightful. 

Since  every  one  is  employed  for  the  common  good 
-rpiore  than  for  themfelves,  perhaps  perfons  may  ap- 
prehend that  this  gives  a  check  to  induftry,  not  hav- 
ing that  fpur  of  private  intereft,  hoarding  up  riches, 
or  aggrandizing  their  families,  as  is  to  be  found  in 
other  nations.  I  was  apprehenfive  of  this  myfelf,  when 
I  came  to  underftaqd  their  government ;  but  fo  far 
,from  it,  that  pofhbly  there  is  not  fuch  an  induftrious 
.race  of  people  in  the  univerfe.  They  place  their 
great  ambition  in  the  grandeur  of  the  country^  looking 
on  thofe  as  oarrow  and  mercenary  fpirits,  who  can 
prefer  a  part  to  the  whole  ;  they  pride  themfelves  over 
other  nations  on  that  account,  each  man  having  a 
proportionable  lliare  in  the  public  grandeur,  the  love 
of  glory  and  praife  feems  to  be  their  greateft  paffion. 
JBelides,  their  wile  governors  have  fuch  ways  of  ftir- 
ringup  their  emulation  by  public  honours,  harangues, 
and  panegyricks  in  their  aflemblies,  with  a  thoufand 
other  ways  of  fliew  and  pageantry,  and  this  for  the 
moft  minute  arts,  that  were  it  not  for  that  fraternal 
.love  ingrafted  in  them  from  their  infancy,  they  would 
be  in  danger  of  raifmg  their  emulation  to  too  great  a 
height.  Thofe  who  give  indications  of  greater  wii- 
^om  and  prudence  in  their  condud  than  others,  ar« 
marked  out  for  governors,  and  gradually  railed  ac- 
cording to  their  merit.  Whoever  invents  a  new  art 
has  a  ftutue  erected,  according  to  the  ufefulnefs  ol  it, 
.with  his  name  &  family  iniertedin  the  public  records. 
Whoever  diftinguilhes  himfelf  by  any  particular  ex- 
•cellency,  has  fuitable  marks  of  diitin«^ion  paid  him  on 

o 


I5S  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA 

-  public  occafions,  ns  g^arlaiids,  crowns,  acclamations, 
fongs,  or  hymns  in  liis  praife,  ike.  It  is  ir.crediblc 
how  fuch  rewards  as  thd'c  encourage  indullry  and 
arts  in  minds  lb  afl'ei^ed  with  glory  as  thel'c  people 
are  :  on  the  other  hand,  tlieir  greatell  punilliments, 
except  for  capital  crimes^vvhich  are  punillicd  as  above, 
arc  by  public  difgruccs. 

But  now  I  am  Ipeaking  of  their  youth  ;  as  they  look 
upon  them  as  feeds  of  the  common  wealth,  which,  if 
corrupted  in  the  bud,  will  never  bring  forth  fruit,  fo 
their  particular  care  is  laid  out  in  their  education,  in 
which  1  believe  they  excel  all  nations.  One  cannot 
lay  there  is  one  in  the  whole  nation  who  maybe  cal. 
led  an  idle  perfon,  tlunigh  they  indulge  their  youth 
very  much  in  proper  recreations,  endeavouring  to 
keep  them  as  gay  as  they  can,  btcaufe  they  are  natu- 
rally inclined  to  gravity.  Befides  daily  recreations, 
they  have  fet  times  and  feafons  for  public  exerciles, 
as  riding,  vaulting,  running,  but  particularly  hunting 
wild  beails,  and  filhing  for  crocodiles  and  alligators, 
in  their  great  lakes,  which  I  ihall  defcribe  to  your 
Reverences  on  anotlier  occafion;  }'et  they  are  never 
fullered  to  go  alone,  that  is,  a  company  of  young  men 
together  without  grave  men  and  perfons  in  authority 
ftlcmg  with  them,  who  are  a  guard  to  them  in  all  their 
kdions  ;  nrty,  they  are  never  I'ulfered  to  Ueep  together, 
each  Iving  in  a  lingle  bed,  though  in  a  public  room, 
withiom.e  grave  perlon  in  tlie  lame  room  with  them. 
Their  women  art  kept  much  in  the  fame  manner,  to 
prevent  inconvcniencies,  which  I  ihall  touch  upon 
when  I  come  to  the  education  of  their  women :  and 
this  fo  univerfnliy,  that  as  there  are  no  idle  compani- 
ons to  lead  them  into  extravagancies,  fo  there  arc  no 
idle  and  loofe  wom.en  to  be  found  to  corrupt  their 
minds.  Their  whole  time,  both  for  men  and  women, 
is  taken  up  in  employments  or  public  recreations, 
which  with  the  early  care  to  inllruft  them  in  the 
fundamental  principles  of  the  morality  of  the  countrji^, 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  I59 

prevents  all  thofe  diforders  of  youth  we  fee  elfewhere. 
Hence  too  comes  that  ftrength  of  body  and  mind  in 
their   men,    and  modeft  blooming    beauty  in  their 
women ;  fo  that  among  this  people  nature  feems  to 
have   kept  up   to  its  primitive  and  original  perfec- 
tion.    Befides,  that  univerfal  likenefs  in  them,  pro- 
ceeding from  their  conjugal  fidelity  and  exclufion  of 
all  foreign  mixture  in  their  breed,  (where  all  the  linea- 
ments of  their  anceftors,  dire6l  and  collateral,  meet  at 
lafl  in  their  offspring)  gives  the  parents  the    comfort 
of  feeing  their  own  blood  and  youth  renewed  in  their 
children  ;  tliough,  in  my  opinion,  this  univerfal  likenefs 
is  rather  a  defe6l,  nut  but  the  treafures  of  nature  arc 
fo  inexhauftible,   that  there  are  forae   diilinguidiing 
beauties  in  every  face.     Thvjir  young  men  and  womt^n 
meet  frequently,  but  then  it  is  in  their  public  affem- 
blies,  with  grave  people  mixt  along  with  them.     At 
all  public  exercifes  the  women  are  placedin  view  to 
lee  and  be  i^Qen^  in  order  to  infpire  the  young  men 
with   emulation  in  their"  performances.     They  are 
premitted  to  be  decently  familiar  on  thofe  public  oc- 
cafions,  and  can  chufe  their  lovers  refpetliv^ely,  ac- 
cording to  their  liking,  there  being  no  fuch  thing  as 
dowries  or  interelf,  but  mere  pcrfonal  merit  in  the 
caufe  ;  but  more  of  this  after  v\'ards,  when  I  fliall  fpeak 
more  particularly  of  the  education  of  tlu^ir  women  and 
marriages.     This  is  afhort  fketch  of  the  government 
and  (Economy   of  a  people,  who  are  as  much  diftin- 
guiQied  from  the  cufloms  of  others,  as  they  are  fepa- 
rated  by  their  habitation  and  country. 
[In(/'U7'jitor,     You  feem.  Sir,  to  have  a  very  high  idea 
of  this  patriarchal  government,  and  look  upon  it 
according  to  the  law  of  nature  j  I  hope  you  don't 
deny  but  perfons  may  be  obliged  by  the  law  of  na- 
ture to  obey  their  forms  of  government,  as  a  pa*- 
triarchalone? 
Gaudc'Uis.     No,  Reverend  Fathers,  by  no  means,  I 
don't  enter  into  comparifons,  but  relate  matters  of 


l60  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

fa£l.  It  is  not  to  be  doubted,  but  different  form' 
of  government  may  be  proper  for  different  nations* 
and  where  once  a  form  of  government  is  lawfully 
ef^abiiflied,  ]ierfons  are  obliged  to  obey,  to  avoid 
anarchy  and  confufion  ;  as  for  example,  whoever 
flicuid  endeavour  to  fubvert  a  monarchical  govern- 
ment once  lawfully  eftabliilied,  muft  break  in  upon 
the  laws  of  right  and  jullice,  which  are  obligations 
of  the  law  of  nature. 

Jyiqif'u'nc.      Read  on. 

Second  Inquisitor,  Under  favour,  1  mufl  afk  him  a 
queflion  or  iwo  firfl:.  I  think,  Signor  Gaudentio, 
you  make  the  grand  Pophar  to  be  both  prince  and 
pricft  ;  that  is,  to  be  veiled  both  with  temporal  and 
Spiritual  power  :  is  it  your  opinion  that  the  fpiritual 
power  is  fubje«^  to  the  temporal  ? 

Gaudentio,  I  fpeak  of  Heathens,  Rev.  Fathers,  where 
the  grand  Pophar  was  both  prince  of  the  people,artd 
chief  pricft  of  the  Sun  by  his  place.  I  acknowledge 
no  head  of  the  church  but  his  Holinefs,  as  mofl 
agreeable  tothe  primitive  inflitution  of  our  religion. 

Here  be  ivent  on  in  bis  exalted  riotitns  of  tbefove- 

reign  Pontijf^  partly  being  a  Roman  Catbolic^  but 

cbiejly^  in  all  appearance^  because  be  nvas  before  tbe 

Inquisition  ;J'or  wbicb  reason  tbepubli(her  tbougbt 

Jit  to  leavij  it  out. 

Gaudentio..  Is  it  your  Reverences  plcafure  that  I 
goon  with  my  hiflory? 

Inquisitor.     Ay,  ay,  read  on.  ] 

THE      EDUCATION     OF     THEIR     WOMEN,    AnD     MAR- 
RIAGES. 

As  for  their  women,  the  Pophar  told  me  it  \Vas 
•what  gave  them  the  moft  trouble  of  any  thing  in  their 
whole  government  ;  that  by  their  records,  their  an- 
ceftors  had  held  frequent  confulations  after  what  rtian- 
ner  they  were  to  be  manged,  there  being  great  diffi- 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  l6l 

cultlcs  to  be  feared  either  from  allowing  them  liber- 
ty, or  keeping  them  under  reftraint.  '  If  you  allow 
theTn  liberty,  you  muft  depend  on  their  honour,  or 
rather  caprice,  for  your  own  ;  if  you  keep  them  un- 
der confinement,  they  will  be  fure  to  revenge  them- 
feives  the  fird  opportunity,  which  they  will  find  In 
fpite  of  all  you  can  do.  The  rules,'  faid  he,  by  which 
men  are  governed,  won't  hold  with  women  ;  folid 
reafon,  if  you  can  make  them  fenfible  of  it,  will  fome 
time  or  other  have  an  influence  on  mollmen;  where- 
as humour  is  what  predominates  in  women.  Hiu 
that,  you  have  them ;  mifs  it,  you  do  nothing :  and 
yet  they  are  fo  far  from  being  an  indifferent  thing 
in  the  commonwealth,  that  much  more-  depends  on 
the  right  management  of  them  than  people  imagine, 
Licentioufnefs  of  youth  draws  innumerable  misfor- 
tunes on  any  government  ;  and  what  greater  incen- 
tives for  licentioufnefs  than  lewd  women,  whether 
common  proftitates,  wanton  ladies,  or  adultereffes  ? 
For  all  loofe  women  belong  to  one  of  thefe  clafTes. 
Our  women,'  continued  he,'  are  extremely  beauti- 
ful, as  you  fee  J  our  men.ftrongand  vigorous  ;  con- 
jugal fidelity,  therefore,  and  chaftity,  muft  be  ihe 
llrongeft  bonds  to  keep  them  in  their  duty.  As  for 
our  young  men,  we  keep  them  in  perpetual  employ- 
ment, and  animate  them  to  glory  by  every  thing 
that  can  move  generous  minds  ;  with  our  women,wc 
endeavour  the  fame  by  ways  adapted  to  their  genius. 
But  our  greateft  care  of  all,  is  to  make  marriage 
efteemed  by  both  parties  the  happieft  ftate  that  can 
be  wiflied  for  in  this  life.  This  we  believe  to  de- 
pend on  making  the  woman,  rather  than  the  man, 
happy  and  fixed  in  her  choice  ;  becaufe,  if  the  per- 
fon  be  impofed  upon  her,  contrary  to  her  own  in- 
ward inclination,  diilike,  or  revenge,  or  perhaps  a 
more  fliameful  paihon,  will  make  her  feek  for  relief 
elfewhere  j  and  where  women  are  not  virtuous, 
men  will  be  lewd.     We  therefore  permit  thewo- 

O  % 


l6l  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

man  to  chufe   entirely  for  herfelf,  and  the  men  to 
make  their  addrclfes  where  thcv  pleafe  :  but  the 
woman   is  to  diitinguifh  her  choice  by  fome  fignal 
occafion  or  other,  and    that  too  not  without  great 
difficulties  on  both  fides,  which  being  furmounted, 
they  eftcem  themfelves  arrived  at  the  happy  part  of 
all  their  wiflies.     The  moll   ardent  and  tried  love 
determines  the  choice  :  this  endears  the  man  to  her 
on  the  one  hand,  and  the  difficult)'  of  finding  any 
woman  who  has  not  the  fame  inducements  to  love 
her  huiband,  leaves  him  no  encourairement  for  his 
lawleis  dciires  among  married  women  ;  and  the  An- 
gle women  are  either  fo  early  engaged  with  their 
lovers,  or  fo  polTeffed  with  the  notion  that  a  marri- 
ed man  cannot  belong  to  her,  that  his    fuit  would 
be  entirely  vain.     Jna  woi*d,  we  do  not  allow  the 
leaft  temporal  intereft  to  interfere  in  the  choice,  but 
rather  wifli  our  young  people  ihould  be  mutually 
attracted  by  efteem  and  affe^iilion.     The  whole  bu- 
finefs  of  courtfbip  is  to  prove  their  conftancy,  and  to 
make   them  fo  :  when  we  are   well  aifurcd  of  this, 
all  obllacles  are  removed.     We  found  this  method 
to  have  the  leaft    inconveniencies  of  any,  and  the 
beft  means  to  preferve  conjugal  fidelity,  on  which 
tlie  good  of  families  fomuch  dei)ends. 
'  When  our  nation,'  continued  he,  *  began  to  grow 
very   populous,  and  the  country  full  of  riches  Jind 
plenty  ;  the  promifcuous  converfation  of  our  young 
men  and  women,  with  fome  negle*^  on  the  part  of 
the  governors,  was  the  occafion  that  the  bounds  of 
our  innocent  anceftors  were  not  fufficicnt  to  keep 
them  in  their  duty  ;  ftrange  difordcrs  were   crept 
among  our  youth  of  both  fexes  ;  our  men  grew  ener- 
vated and  effeminate,  our  women  wanton  and  en- 
flamed  ;  unnatural  abufes  wafted  their  conftitution ; 
io  that  we  loft  thoufands  of  our  young  men  and  wo- 
men, without  knowing  what  was  the  caufe :  even  in 
the  married  itate,  the  women  began  n^t  %o  be  con- 


OAUDENTid    DI    LUCCA*  i^-y 

tented  with  one  man  ;  on  which  account  our  an- 
ceftors  had  almoft   refolved  to  keep  all  our  women 
from  the  fight  of  men  till  they  were   married,  and 
then  to  deliver  them  up  to  their  hufbands,  who 
fhould  have  a  defpotic  right  over  them  as  I  am  in- 
formed they  have  in  other  nations.  They  imagined 
this  to  be  a  certain  means    to  afcertain  the  legiti- 
macy of  their  children,  and  to  prevent  jealoufy,  the 
firft  caufe,  however  diffembled,  of  the  man's  diflike 
to  his    wife.     Others    objected  againft  this  fevere 
difcipline,  and  faid,  it  was  making  the  moft  beau* 
tiful   part   of  the  creation  mere  flaves,  or  at  leaft 
mere  properties  ;  that  it  was  to  give  a  fatal  check 
to  the  glory  of  a  free  people,  to  deprive  the  hufband 
of  the  voluntary  love  of  his  moiety,  and  take  away 
the  moft  endearing  part  of  conjugal  happinefs.  To 
this   the  feverer  fide  ai>fwered,  that   the   women 
were  come  to  fuch  a  pafs,  that  their  abufes  of  liber- 
ty fhewed  they  were  fcarce  capable  of  making  a 
proper   ufe  of  it.     However,  a  medium   betwixt 
both  carried  it  for  that  time.  The  injuries  of  the 
marriage  ftate,  and  the  corruption  of  youth,  which 
was  the  occafion  of  it,  were  judged  to  be  of  fuch 
confequence  to  the  commonwealth,   that,  refolved 
to  put  a  flop  to  it  at  any  rate,  all  the  wife  men  and 
governors   confulted  together,  and  refolved  unani- 
moufly  to  put  the  laws  I  mentioned  againft  adultery 
and  whoredom  in  execution,  caufing  proclamations 
to  be  made  for  that  intent  throughout  the  whole 
empire.     All   corrupters  of  youth  of  both  fexes 
were  fhut  up  immediately,  with  the  regulations  I  re- 
lated above,  of  having  grave  perfons  always  in  the 
company  of  young  people,  whether  men  or  women. 
They  married  off  all  that  were  of  age  for  it,  as  faft 
as  they  could;  but  quickly  found  the  number  of  in. 
habitants  did  not  increafc  as  ufual,  their  native  vi- 
gour being  exhaufted  or  debilitated  by  their  unna- 
tural abuies— '-^^ 


.164  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

[Some  paragraphs  seem  'wanting  in  this  part  of  Gau- 
dcntio'^s  narrative^  ivbicb  doubtlcfs  vjtre  very  cii" 
riousJ] 

There  is  one  peculiar  mclliod  allowed  by  th^m,  ia 
which  they  differ  from  all  otlier  nations;  for  whereas 
ihcfc  lall  endeavour  to  preferve  their  young  people 
from  love,  lell:  they  fliould  throw  tliemfclvcs  away,  or 
make  dii'advantageous  matclies  ;  the  former,  haviwg 
110  interefted  views  in  that  refped,  encourage  a  gene- 
rous  and  honourable  love,  and  make  it  their  care  to 
fix  them  in  the  lhicti:ll  bonds  they  can,  as  foon  as  they 
judge,  by  their  age  and  conllitution,  of  their  inclinati- 
ons  ;  this  they  do    fometimes  by    applauding   their 
choice,  but  moitlyby  raifingvail;  difllcuhics,  contriv- 
ed on  purpofe  both  to  try  and  enhance  llieir  conllan- 
cy.     They  have  hiftories  and  ftories  of  heroic  exam- 
ples of  fidelity   and  conftancy  in  both  fexes  :  but  par- 
ticularly  for  the  young  women,  by   which  they  are 
tauglit  rather  to  fuffcr  ten  thoufand  deaths  than  vio- 
late their  plighted  faith.     One  may  ia\-  they  are  a  na- 
tion of  faithful  lovers:  the  longer  they  live  together, 
the  more  their  fricncUhip  increafes,  and  infidelity  in 
either  fex  is  looked  upon  as  a  capital  crime.     Add  to 
this,  that  being  all  of  the   fame  rank  and  quality,  ex- 
cei)t  the  regard  paid  to  elderdup  and   public   employ- 
ments, nothing  but    perfonal  merit,   and  a  liking  of 
eacli  other,  determines  the  choice  ;  tliere  muft  be  fig- 
nal  proofs  produced,  that  the  woman  prefers  the  mail 
before  all  others,  as  his  fervice  mull  be  dilVmguiihed 
in  the  fame  manner.     AN'here  this  is  approved  of  by 
the  governors  or  elders,  if  the  woman  iniills  on  her  de- 
mands, it  is  an  inviolable  law  that  that  man  mull  be 
herhulband.     Their  hands  are  firfl:  joined  together  , 
in  public,    then  they  clafp  each  other  in  the  clofelt 
embrace,  in  which  pollure   the  elder  of  the  place,  to 
fliew  that  this   union  is  never  t©  be  diflolved,  takes  a 
circle  of  the  fineil  tempered  Heel,  woven  with  flowers, 
and  firit  lays  it  over  their  necks,  as  they  are  thus  . 


GAUDENTIO    tyi    tUttAi  l6s 

claiplng  each  other,  then  round  their  waifts,  and  laft 
of  all  round  their  breafts,  or  hearts,  to  fignify  that  the 
ardency  of  their  iove  muft  terminate  in  an  indiffolu- 
ble  friendfliip  ;  whieh  is  followed  by  infinite  accla- 
mations and  congratulations  of  the  whole  alTenibly. 
I  believe  the  world  cannot  furnilh  fuch  examples  of 
conjugal  chaftity  as  are  preierved  between  them  by 
theie  means.  Widowers  and  widows  never  marrv 
fingle  perfons,  andbut  rarely  at  all,  except  left  young ; 
when  they  are  lo  gain  each  other  as  before.  By 
fuch  prudent  precautions,  infinite  diforders  and  mil- 
fortunes  to  the  commonwealth  are  prevented,  pro- 
ceeding not  only  from  difproportionate  and  forced 
marriages,  but  from  the  licentioufnefs  of  idle  perfons, 
who  either  marry  for  money,  or  live  on  the  fpoil  of 
other  people,  till  they  can  get  an  advantageous  match. 
This  is  a  (liort  flcetch  of  their  government  and  cui- 
toms,  which  I  thought  would  not  be  unacceptable  to* 
your  Reverences,  though  a  great  many  other  cuftoms 
oflefs  moment  will  occur  in  the  fequel  of  my  life,  to 
which  1  now  return. 

The  Pophar  regent  made  choice  of  me  for  one  oi. 
his  attending  companions,  with  the  other  young  meri 
who  came  home  with  us  :  he  had  a  great  many  other 
attendants  and  oflicers,  deputed  by  common  confent, 
to  wait  his  orders  as  regent ;  thefe  were  changed 
every  five  years,  as  were  thofe  attending  the  govern* 
ors  of  the  other  Nomes,  on  account  of  improvement; 
for,  being  all  of  equal  quality,  they  endeavour  to  give 
them  as  equal  an  education  as  poifible,  changing  their 
employments,  and  waiting  on  one  another  in  their 
turns,  by  the  appointment  of  their  refpedlive  govern- 
ors, except  thofe  whofe  genius  or  choice  determines 
them  to  arts  and  fciences, according  to  their  ceconomy 
defcribed  before,  I  muft  only  add,  that  having  fuch 
a  high  value  of  their  race,  no  one  thinks  it  a  difgrace 
to  perform  the  meaneft  offices,  being  all  to  be  attended 
in  like  manner  themfelvcs  when  it  comes  to   their 


i66  caurentio  di  lucca. 

turns,  each  looking  upon  the  lionours  done  to  even* 
branch  of  the  government  as  their  own.     Hence  all 
tl)cir  public  ranks  and  ceremonits  urc  the  moft  mag- 
nificeni  that  can  be  imagined  ;  llicre  is  i'carce  any 
thing  done,  even  in  entertainments  l>etwcen  the  pri- 
vate tribes,  but  there  are  proper  oiliccrs  deputed  for 
it,  and  all   expences  paid  out  of  the  common   ftock, 
with  deputies  and  uverfcers  for  every  thing,     'i'hcir 
houfes  are  all  open  to  one  another,with  a  long  gallery, 
which  runs  from  one  end  of  the  range  of  buildings 
to  the   other.     The  women's  apartments  join  toge- 
ther; with  the  men  of  each  family  joining  to  their 
own  women,  that  is,  their  wives,  iifters   and  daugh- 
ters.    The  women  have  their  fubaltern  officers  like 
the  men.     7'hc  firft  apartment  of  ever\'  break  of  a 
ftreet  belongs  to  the  men,  then  the  women's  belong, 
ing  to  them  J  then  the  women's  of  tlie  next  family 
joining  to  theiH,  and  Liieir  men  beyond  them,  and  io 
on,  with  large  public  halls  at  proper  dillances  for 
public  aflemblies  ;  fo  that  every  thing  they  do  is  a 
lort  oF  paradox  to  us,  for  they  are  the  freeit  and  yet 
ftrKftefi  peoj)le  in  the  world;  the  whole  nation,  as  I 
obferved  before,  being  more  like  on«  univerfal  regu- 
lar college  or  com.munit)',  than  any  thing  elfe.    The 
women  are  pcrpetuaily  em[)loyed  as  well  as  the  men  ; 
it  is  their  bufjnefs  to  work  all  the  fme  gi;rments  for 
themfelves  and  the  men,  which  being  much  the  fame, 
except  devices  rnd  flowers  for  their  friends  amllov- 
firs,  are  made  with  lefs  diHlculty  ;  the  chief  dillerence 
is  in  the  wearing  thein.     liut  the  chief  dillinilion  of 
iexes,  is  in  the  orny.ments   of  their  necks  and  hair. 
Crowns  and    fillets   arc  worn  by   all,  jull  after  the 
jnodel  of  the   little  picture  your  Reverences  faw  in 
the  cabinet ;  all  their  tapellry,  cmbroidei*y,  and  the 
like,  with  infinite  other  curiolities,  are  the  works  of 
their  women,  fo  that  the  chief  qualifications  of  their 
women,  or  ladies,  for  they  are  all  fuch,  is  to  excel  at 
the  loom,  needle  or  diftuff.     Since  1  came  there,  by 


.    GAU£)ENTIO  DI    LUCCA.  iS'J 

tl'ie  Pophar's  clefire,  they  have  added  that  of  painting, 
in  which,  I  believe,  the  vivacity  of  their  genius  wJll 
make   them    excel  all  the  re  II  of  the    world.     Not 
teaching;  for  hire,   I  thought  it  no  difgrace  in  me  to 
inftru-fl  fuch  amiable  fcholars  in  an  art  no  man  ought 
to  be  afliamed  of.     It  is  a  thing  unknown  wit]-\  thefe 
people  for  young  ladies  oFany  degree,  or  even  young 
men,  to  have  nothing  elfe  to  mind  or  to  think  of  but 
vifits  and  drefs.     When  I  gave  them  an  account  of 
the  lives  of  our  quality  and  gentry,  they  cried  out — 
'  What  barbarians!   Can  any  thing  become  beauty 
'  more    than   knowledge    and    ingenuity  V      They 
feemed"  to  have  fuch  a  contempt  and  even  horror 
.  for  a  life  of  that  nature,  that  the  young  ladies  afked 
,  me  with  great  concern,  if  our  ladies  had  any  lovers  ? 
as  if  it  were  impoffible  to  love  a  woman  who  had  no- 
.  thing  to  recommend  her  but  what  nature  gave  her. 
.  In  fine,  by  the,  defcriptjon  I  gave  of  the  idle  life  of 
our  ladies,  they  judged  them  to  le  no  rn ore  than 
.  beautiful  brutes.     They  afked  me  alfo,  if  I  did  not 
think  myfelf  fortunate  by  my  captivity,  where  I  met 
.with  ladies  who  thought  the  ornaments  of  the  mind 
more  defirable  than  thofe  of  the  body  ;  and  told  me, 
they  imputed  what  they  faw  in  me  to  my  go©d  for- 
tune of  being  born  of  their  race  by  the  mother's  fide; 
nay,  could  fcarce  believe  but  my  fatlier  hada  mixture 
of  their  blood  fome  way  or  other.     I  aOurcd  them, 
I  cfteemed  myfelf  very  happy  to  be  in  the  midft  of 
fo  many  charms  of  body  and  mind ;  and  added,  that 
'though  ihey  had  the  ineilimable  hnppinefs  of  being 
born  all  of  one  race,  vvithout  any  mixture  of  foreign 
vices,  yet  in  effe^l  all  the  world  were  origii-i,ally  bro- 
thers and  fillers,  as  fpringing  from  one   pair,  fmce 
men  and  women  did  not  rife  out  of  the  ground  like 
muflirooms.   This  I  faid  to  give  them  a  little  hint  of 
natural  and  revealed  religion,  which  are  infeparably 
linked  together.     But  to  return  to  myfelf:  the  Po- 
phar  being  my  nearelt  relation,  took  me  into  his  own 


-j6^  CAUDtNTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

family, as  his  conllant  companion  and  attendant,  when 
lie  was  not  on  the  public  concerns  ;  where  I  hkcwife 
accompanied  him  Ibmctimes,  and  received  moll  dif* 
tinguirtiing  marks   of  liis  favour.      He   would  ©ften 
confer  with  me,  and  inllni«^  me   in  their  ways  and 
culloms,  and  the  policv  of  their  government,  enquir- 
ing   frequently  into   the  particulars  of  our  govern- 
ments, both  civil  and  religious.     He  never  endea- 
voured to  perfuade  me  to  conform  to  their  religious 
ceremonies,  and  my  own  good  fenfe  told  me  it  was 
])rudence  not  to  meddle  with  them.   I  rather  thought 
he  Icemcd  inclined  to  have  more  favourable  fentiments 
of  our  religion,  as  fuch,  than  l.is  own,  though  he  was 
prodigioully  bigotted  to  their  civil  culloms  ;  faying, 
it  was  impolTible  ever  to  preferve  a  common wealtii, 
when  they  did  not  live  up  to  their  laws  ;  which  Ihould 
be   as  few  and  as  limplc  as  polhble:  for  when  once 
people  break  in  upon  fundiMnentals,  all   fubfequent 
laws  would  not  have  half  the  Ilrcngth  as  primary 
.ones.     To  thefc   he  added  many  other  rcfledions, 
'that  uiewed  him  a  man  of  confummatc  wildom,  and 
worthy  the  high  poft  he  bore.  He  had  had  two  fons, 
both  dead,  and     two    daughters    living;    the    one 
was  about  ten  years  old  when  I  arrived  there,  (it  is 
.flie  your  Reverences  faw  in  that  ])id"ture)  the  other 
.born  the  year  before  the  Pophar  let  out  for  Grand 
(^airo.     I  lis  lady,  much  younger  than  himfelf,  Oiewtd 
.luch  frelli  rcmiiins  of  beauty,  as  demonflrated  thd.t 
,nothing  but  what  I'prung  from  hcrfelf  could  equal 
her:  both  the   Pophar  and  his    coniort    looked  on 
,mc  as  their  own  fon,  nor  could  I  e.xpe£l  greater  fa- 
vour had  I  reiilly  been  fo.     I   took  all  the  care  ima^ 
giuiible  not  to  render  myfelf  unworthy  of  it,  and  both 
revered  and  loved  them  beyond  what  I  am  able  to 
exprefs ;  though  indeed,  as   1  obl'ervea,  tlie  whole 
race  of  them  was  nothing  but  a  kingdom  of  brothers 
•and  friends,  no  man  having  the  lead  fufpicion  or  fear 
fii  another.     They  were  ib  habituated  to  the  obferv* 


eAUDENTIO    DI    ItJCCA.  XG^ 

^nce  of  their  laws,  by  their  natural  difpofitions  and 
the  never  ceafing  vigilancy  of  their  governors,  that 
•they  feemed  to  have  a  greater  horror  for  the  breach 
Kjf  their  laws,  than  the  punifliments  attending  it ;  fay- 
ing that  infinite  diiorders  might  be  committed  by 
the  malicious  inventions  of  men,  if  there  were  no- 
thing but  fear  to  keep  them  in  their  duty.  Such  force 
has  education  and  the  light  of  nature  rightly  culti- 
vated;  for  mylelf,  I  was  left  to  follow  what  liberal 
employment  I  Jhad  a  mind  to.  Pliilofophy,  mufic 
and  paintings  had  been  the  chief  part  of  my  ftudy  and 
diverfion,  till  my  unhappy  captivity  and  the  lofs  of 
my  brother ;  but  as  I  was  fallen  among  a  nation  of 
philofophers,  that  noble  fcience,  the  miftrefs  of  all 
others,  made  up  the  moft  ferious  part  of  my  employ- 
ment ;  though  at  fome  times,  by  the  Pophar  regent's 
eameft  defire,  I  applied  myfelf  to  the  other  two,  par- 
ticularly painting.  I'hey  had  a  great  many  old- 
fafliioned  mufical  inftruraents,  and  an  infinite  number 
of  performers  in  their  way,  who  attended  their  feafts 
nnd  public  rejoicings  :  but  their  mufic, both  vocal  and 
inftrumental,  was  not  near  fo  perfe<^  as  one  might 
expe£l  from  fo  polite  a  people,  and  did  not  come  up 
to  the  elevated  genius  of  our  Italians.  Their  philo- 
fophy  chiefly  turned  on  the  more  ufeful  part  of  it ; 
that  is,  the  mathematics  and  direction  of  nature  :  in 
the  moral  part  of  it  they  have  a  fyftem,  or  rather  no- 
tion, of  which  I  forgot  to  acquaint  your  Reverences 
before  ;  it  is  a  too  high  and  exalted  notion  of  Provi- 
•denee,  if  that  expreflion  may  be  allowed,  by  which 
they  imagine  all  things  to  be  fo  governed  in  this 
world,  that  whatever  injury  a  man  does  to  another, 
it  will  be  returned  upon  him  or  his  pofterity,  even 
in  this  world,  in  the  lame  manner,  or  even  in  a  greater 
degree,  than  what  he  did  to  others, 
[Inquisitor,  You'll  be  pleafed  to  explain  your  own 
ientiments  in  this  particular,  iince  we  hope  you 


^IJO  CAUDFNTTO.DI    LUCCA. 

don't  deny  that  funJamenial  law  of  nature  and 
religion,  viz.  That  the  divine  Providence  prefides 
over  all  things;  and  as  for  fuhlunary  things,  wo 
prefume  you  believe  that  Providence  does  not  only 
fliew  itlclfin  the  wonderful  proda^flion  and  harmo- 
ny confpicuoiis   in   all  natural  caules  and  effetfls, 
beyond  all  the  wit  and  art  of  men ;  but  alio  over 
the  moral  part,  tliat   is,  the   free  afiions   of  men, 
by  fuitable  rewards  and  puniOiments  in  this  world 
or  the  next,  to  make  an  equal  and  juft  compenlatj- 
on  for  all  the  good  and  evil  of  this  life,  as  God  is 
the  juft  and  equal  father  of  all.     So  pray  explain 
yourieUVthat  v/e  may  know  your  real  fentiments 
on  that  head. 
Gaudentio,     I  hcpe,  reverend  Fathers,  I  fliall  con- 
vince you,  my  lentiments  are  really  orthodox  in 
this  point  ;  no  npail  has  more  reaibn  to   magnify 
Providence   thnu  myfelf;    but  heathenilh  pe.>ple 
may  carry  a  jull  belief  to  fuperfliition.     'Jliat  there 
is  a  Pro\idence  over  the  phyfical  part  of  the  world, 
■no  man  who  has  any  juft  knowledge  in  nature  caa 
be  ignorant,  fmce  he  may  beeonvincedby  the  lenll 
infed'b,  every   thing  being  adapted  to  its 'peculiar 
ends,  witli  fuch  art  and  knowledge  in  the    Author 
of  it,  that  all  the  art  and  knowledge  of  men  can't 
do  the  like  ;   a!»d  by  confequencc  not  being  able  to 
makeitfclf,  it  muitbe  produced  by  a  caufe  infinitely 
)cnowing  and  foreieeing.     Then,  as  to  /he    moral 
part  of  the  world,  the  lame  reaibn  fliew's,  that  fince 
the  great  Cireator  del'cends  io  low  as   to  take  care 
of  the  lead  inftiTi,  it  is  incredible  to  think  that  tha 
roblcH:  part  of  the  world,  that   is,  the  free  aflion* 
of  men,  (hould  be  wjtiiout  his  care,     liut  as  he  has 
given  them,  the  glorious  endowments  of  free  will, 
the  fame  Providence  knows  how  to  adapt  the  di- 
re(flion  of  them  by  ways  and  means  fuitable  to  their 
beings  ;  that  is,  by  letting  them  know  his  will,  and 
propolin^   fuitubltt   rewards  and  puniQimeuts  for 


J 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  I7I 

their  good  and  bad  anions  ;  which  rewards  and  pu- 
nitliments,  it  is  evident,  are  not  always  feen  in  this 
life,  fince  the  wicked  often  proiper,  and  the  good  '. 
fuffcr,  but  by  confequence  muft  be  relerved  for 
another  ftate/' 
But  theie  people  not  having  a  juft  notion  of  the  next 
life,  though  they  believe  a  future  ftate,  carry  mat- 
ters fo  far,  that  they  think  every  injury  done  to  a- 
nothei' will  be  iome  way  or  other  retaliated  upon . 
•  the  aggrcfTor,  or  his  poflerity,  in  this  life  :  only 
they  fay,  the  punifliment  always  falls  the  heavier 
the  longer  it  is  deferred.  In  this  manner  do  they 
account  for  all  the  revolutions  of  the  earth,  that 
one  wicked  a6lioh  is  punifhed  by  another ;  that  the 
defcendants  of  the  greateO:  monarchs  have  b'v^en 
loft  in  beggary  for  almoft  endleis  generations,  and 
theperfons  that  difpoffeifed  them  treated  after  tht; 
farne  manner  by  fome    of  the  defcendants  of  the 

■  former ;   and  fo  on  :  which  notion,  in   my  opinion 
'is  not  juft,  fince  a  fincere  repentance  may  wipe -oft* 

the  moft  grievous  offences.     Butas  perfons,   gene- 

■  rally  fpeaking,  are  more  fenfibly  touched  with  the 

■  puniQlTnents  of  this  life,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  but 
there  are  often  moft  fignal  marks  of  avenging   pro- 

'  videncp  in  this  life,  in  ordtr  to  deter  the  wicked. 
Inquisitor,     Go  on.]    - 

Finding  the  Pophar  had  a  prodigious  fancy  for 
painting,  by  fome  indifferent  pieces  he  hid  picked  up, 
I  applied  myfelf  with  extraordinary  diligence  to  that 
art,  ])articularly  fince  he  would  have  me  teach  his 
daughter,  whole  unparalleled  charms,  thougli  but  in 
the  bud,  made  me  inlenfible  to  all  otliers.  By  fre- 
quent drawing,  I  not  only  pleafed  him  and  others, 
hut  alfo  myfelf  ;  every  one  there,  men  and  women* 
vvtrc  to  follow  fome  art  or  fcience  :  the  Pophar  defired 
me  to  impart  my  art  to  fome  of  the  young  people  of 
both  fexcs  ;  faying,  there  were  very  great  cncou- 
ragen>entaforthe  inventors  of  any  new  arts,  which  I' 


172  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

might  juftly  claim  a  title  to.  I  did  fo  ;  and  before  I 
left  il.c  place,  I  had  the  plcaiure  to  ice  iomc  of  thera 
ecual,  or  even  excel  their  mailer.. 

Thefe  were  the  chief  employments  of  my  Itifure 
hours  ;  though  I  was  forced  to  leave  them  for  confi- 
derahle  intervals  to  attend  the  regent  in  the  private 
vifitations  of  his  charge,  which  he  did  frequently 
from  time  to  time,  fometimes  to  one  Nome,  fomctimes 
to  another,  having  an  eye  over  all,  both  officers  and. 
people.  Thefe  vifitation&were  rather  prclervations 
againfl,  than  remedies  for,  any  difordcrs.  Pleufedto 
fay,  tliat  the  commonwealth  was  like  a  great  ma- 
chiiie'  with  different  movements,  which  if  frequently 
vifited  by  the  artift,  the  leaft  flaw  being  taken  notice 
of  in  time,  was  not  onlj  loon  remedied,,  but  was  a- 
jTieaiiS  of  preferving  all  the  reft  in  a  conftant  and  regu-- 
lar  motion  ;  but  if  ncgle6led,  would  foon  diforder  the 
motions  of  the  other  parts,  and  either  coft  a  great 
deal  to  repair,  or  bring  the  whole  machine  to  delhuc- 
tion.  Unlefs  on  public  folemnities,  which  were  al- 
ways very  magnificent,  the  Pophar  (not  to  burden  his- 
people)  went  about  without  any  great  train,  accom- 
panied by  only  an  afliiting  elder  or  two,  the  young  Po- 
phar, andmyfolf :  he  had  frequent  convcrlauons  with 
the  iubalterns,  and  even  with  tlie  meaneft  artifans, 
calling  them  his  children  ;  and  they  having  recoui  fe 
to  him  as  their  common  father.  P'or  the  fcril  five 
years  of  his  regenc)',  the  only  difiiculty  we  had  of  a^ 
ny  moment  to  determine  was  an  affair  of  the  moft  de- 
licate nature  1  ever  heard  :  though  it  does  not  con- 
cern myiclf,  I.  fliall  relate  it  to  your  Reverences  for 
the  peculiar  circumilances  of  it,  being  a  caie  entirely 
new,  as  well  as  unprovided  for  by  the  laws  of  their 
conftitution. 

The  cafe  was  this:  two  twin  brothers  had  falicu 
in  love  with  the  fame  woman,  and  Ihe  with  them.-« 
The  men  and  the  woman  lived  in  different  parts,  of 
the  fame  Nome,  and  mct.accideutally  at  one  of  their. 


CAUDF.NTIO    DI    LUCCA.  .     IJ^ 

great  folemnities;  it  was  at  the  feafl:  of  the  Sun, 
which  is  kept  twice  a  year,  becaufe,  as  I  informed 
your  Reverences,  their  kingdom  lies  between  thetro" 
pics,  but  more  on  this  fide  the  line  than  the  other.-— 
This  fitucttion  is  the  occalion  that  they  have  two 
fprings  aiid  two  fummers.  At  the  beginning  of  each 
fpring,  there  are  great  feafts  in  every  Nome,  in  ho- 
nor, of  the  Sun ;  they  are  held  in  the  open  fields,  ia 
teftimony  of  his  being  the  immediate  caule  (in  their 
opinion)  of  the  produdlion  of  all  things.  All  the 
facrifice  they  offer  to  him  are  five  little  pyramids  of 
incfenfe,  according  to  the  number  of  their  Nomes, 
placed  on  the  altar  in  plates  of  gold  till  they  take 
fire  of  themfelves.  Five  young  men,  and  as  many 
women,  are  deputed  by  the  governors  to  perform  the 
ofHce  of  placing  the  pyramid?  of  incenle  on  the 
altar  :  they  are  clad  in  their  fpangled  robes  of  the 
colour  of  the  Nome,  with  crowns  on  their  heads, 
marching  up  two  by  two,  a  man  and  a  wom<^i,  be- 
tween two  rows  of  young  men  and  women,  placed 
theatre-wife  one  above  another ;  and  make  the  moft 
beautiful  fliow  that  eyes  can  behold.  It  happened 
that  one  of  the  twin  brothers  was  deputed,  with  the 
yvoung  lady  I  am  fpeakingof,  to  make  the  firll  couple 
•  for  placing  the  incenfe  upon  the  altar.  They  march- 
ed up  on  different  fides  till  they  came  up  to  the  altar ; 
when  they  have  placed  the  iiKenfe,  they  falute  eacli 
other,  and  crofs  down^  the  men  by  the  ranks  of  the 
women,  and  the  women  by  the  men,  which  they  do 
with  wonderful  grace  becoming  fuch  an  augufl:  alfem- 
bly.  The  defignor  this  is  to  encourage  a  decorum  in 
the  carnage  of  the  young  people,  and  to  give  them  a 
^ight  of  each  other  in  their  greatefl  luftre.  When 
the  five  couple,  h:\ve  performed  their  ceremony,  the 
other  ranks  come  two  by  two  to  the  altar,  faluting 
each  other,  and  crofling  as  before,  by  which  means  . 
Jhe  youn^  people  have  an  opportunity  of  feeing  everj^ 


174  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCAV- 

man  and  woman  of  the  whole  company,  though  the 
placing  of  them   is  clone  by  lot.     If  they  have  not 
any  engagement  before,  they  generally  take  the  firft 
liking  to  one  another  at  fuch  interviews,  and  the  wo- 
man's love  and  choice  being  what  determines  the  mar- 
riage, without  any  view  of  intereft,  being,  as  I  faid, 
all  equal  in  quality,  tlie  young  gallants  make  it  their 
bufinci's  to  gain  the  afFeftion  of  the  perfon  they  like  by 
their  future  fervices.     To  prevent  inconvenience  of 
rivalfliip  at  the  beginning,  if  the  man  be  the  perfon  the 
woman  likes,  he  prefents  her  with  a  flower  juft  in  the 
bud,  which  (lie  takes  and  puts  in  her  brealK     If  flic  is 
engaged  before,  lUc  Ihews  him  one,  to  fignify  her  en- 
gagement J   wJiich  if  in  the  bud  only,  flicws  the  court- 
Ihipisgoneno  further,  than  tlie  tirfl  propofal   and 
liking ;  if  half  blown,  or  the  like,  it  is  an    emblem  of 
furrl>cr  progrefs  ;  if  full  bloNvn,  it  fignilies  that    her 
choice  is  determined,  from  wlienc^e    they  can   never 
recel.o  ;  that  is,  fhe  can  cludlenge  the  man  that  pre- 
fents it,  but  he  cannot  challei>ge  her  till  Ihe  has  worn^ 
it  publicly.     If  any  dillike  fhould  happen    after  that, 
they  are  to  be  ftmt  up,  never  to  have  any  hulband,— - 
If  fhe  has  no  engagement,  but  does  not  approve  of  the 
perfon,  Ihe  m*kes  him  a  low  couvtefy,  with  her  eyes 
fhut  till  he  is  gone  away.     The  women,  it  is  true,  for 
all  this,  have  fome  little  coquettitli  arts,  diflembling 
their  affe<ftions  now-and-then,  but  not  often.     If  the 
man  be  engaged,  he  wears  fome  favour  or  other   to 
ihewit;  if  he  likes  not  the  woman,  he  prefents  her 
with  nothing  ;  if  the  woman  Ihould  make  fome  extra- 
ordinary advances,  without  any  of  his  fide,  fhe  has  li- 
berty to  live  a  maid,  or  to  be  dilpofed  of  among   the 
widows,,being  looked  upon  as  fuch,  who,  by  the  bye, 
marry  none  but   widowers.     But  to   return   to  the 
twins.     It  happened  that  the  brother  who  went  with, 
the  lady  to  the  altar,  feeing  llie  had  no  bud  upon  her 
breaft,  fell  in  Igve  with  her,  and  flie  with  him  ;    the 
uwe  of  the  cerenion)^  hindered  them  from  taking  any. 


GAXJDENTro  Di  LUCCA.  r^y 

further  notice  of  one  another  at  that  time.     As  fhe 
went  down  the  ranka,  the  other  brother  faw  her,  and 
fell  in  love  with  her  likewife,  and  contrives   to  meet 
her  with  a  bud  in  his  hand,  juft  as  the  ceremony  end- 
ed, which  flie  accepts  of,  taking  him  to  be  the  perfon 
who  had  marched  up  with  her  to  the  altar  ;  but  be- 
ing obliged  to  go  oft  with  the  other  young  ladies, 
whetlier  the  concern  Ihe  had  been  in,  in  performing 
the  ceremony  before  lueh  an  illuftrious  alTembly,  or 
the  heat  of  the  weather,  or  the  joy  fhe  conceived  in 
finding  her  affe^lion  reciprocal,  or   all  together,  had 
fuch  an  efFe^l,  that  fhe  fell  into  a  fainting-fit  among 
her  companions;  who  opening  her  bofom  in    hafte, 
not  minding  the  flower,  it  fell  down,  and  was  trod  un-  - 
der  foot,     Juft  as  fhe  was  recovered,  the  brother  who 
performed  the  ceremony,  came  up  and  prefented  his 
bud,  file  thinking  it  had  been  that  fl>e  had   loft,  re- 
ceived it  with  a  look  that  fhewedhe  had  made  a  great- 
er progrefs  in  her  affeftions  than  what-  that  flower 
exprelfed ;  the  laws  not  permitting  any  further  con- 
veriation  at  that  junAure, ,  they  retired  to   their   re- 
fpedive  habitations.     Some  time  after,    the   brother 
who  had  the  luck  to  prefent^the  firfl:  flower,  whom  for 
diftin6lion  I  fhall  call  the  younger  brother,  as  he  really 
was,  found.away  to  make  heravifit  by  flealth,  at  a 
grated  window,  which,  as  I  obferved,' was   publicly 
prohibited  by  the  wife  governors,  but  privately  con- 
nived at  to  enhance  their  love.     He  came  to  her,  and 
after  fome  amorous- converfation,  makes  bold  to  pre- 
fent  her  the  more   advanced  mark  of  his  afFe^bion, . 
which  fhe  accepted  of,,  and  gave   him  in    return    a 
fcarf,  worked  with  hearts  feparated  by  little   bram- 
bles, to  fliew  there  were  fome  difficulties  for  him  to 
overcome  yet ;  however,  they  gave  one  another  mu- 
tual aflurances  of  love,  and  he  was  permitted  to  pro- 
fefs  himfelf  her  lover,  without  declaring  lier   name, 
for  fome  private  reafbns  flie  had.     Not  long   after, 
Uie  elder  brother  came^.and  procured  an  opportunity 


176  CAUDEKTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

of  meeting  her  at  the  fame  window.  The  night  was 
very  dark,  lb  that  he  could  not  fee  the  lecond  flower 
which  flic  had  in  her  bofom,  onlv  fhe  received  him 
with  greater  figns  of  joy  and  freedom  than  he  expell- 
ed ;  but  refie<^ing  on  the  figns  he  had  remarked  in 
her  countenance,  and  after  her  illnefs  by  a  fort  of 
natural  vanity  for  his  own  merits,  flattered  himlelf 
that  her  pallion  was  ratlier  greater  than  liis,  excufed 
himfelf  for  being  fo  long  without  feeing  her,  and  ad- 
ded, that  if  he  were  to  be  guided  by  the  height  of  his 
flame,  he  would  fee  her  every  night.  Siie  reflc(fling 
how  lately  flie  had  feen  him,  thought  his  diligence 
was  very  extraordinaiy,  but  imputed  it  to  the  ardour 
of  his  paflion  ;  in  fuie,  (lie  gave  him  fuch  allured  figns 
of  love,  thathe-thouglil  in  himfeifhe  might  pafs  the 
middle  ceremony,  and  prefent  her  with  the  full-blown 
flower,  to  make  fure  of  her.  S!ie  took  it,  but  told 
him  Ihe  would  not  wear  it  for  fome  time,  till  flie  had 
pafl'ed  iomc  forms,  and  had  furtherproof  of  his  con- 
llancy  ;  but  for  his  confirmation  of  her  affecflion,  Qie 
put  out  her  hand  asr  far  as  the  grate  would  pemiit, 
which  hekiliod  witli  all  the -ardours  of  nn  cnflamed 
lover,  giving  her  a  thoufandaifu ranees  of  his  fidelity, 
and  flic  in  return  gave  him  a  ribband  with  two  heart>s 
interwoven  wilhlierown  hair,  fcparated  only  with  ti 
little  hedge  of  pomegranates  almoU  ripe,  to  Ihew  that 
the  time  of  gathering  the  fruit  was  nigli  at  hand.-i- 
Thus  were  the  three  lovers  in  tlie  greatcft  degree  of 
happiutis  imaginable;  the  brothers  wore  her  favours 
on  all  public  occafions,  congratulating  each  otlu-r  for 
the  fuccefs  in  their  amours  ;  but  as  lovers  aflecl  aic- 
crecyin  all  they  do,  never  telling  one  another  who 
were  the  objeiVs  of  their  afledion.  The  next  great 
feaft  drew  on,  when  the  younger  brother  thought  it 
was  time  to  prefent  the  lalf  mark  of  his  afl'e6\ion,  in 
order  to  demand  her  in  marriage,  whicli  was  ufually 
performed  in  thofe  public  folemnities.  He  told  her 
lie  hoped  it  wa«  *iiOW  lime,  tp  reward  liis  lliime,.  bj 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  I'Jf 

wearing  the  open  flower,  as  a  full  fign  of  her  confent, 
and  gave  her  a  full-blown  artificial  carnation,  with 
gold  flames  and  little  hearts  on  the  leaves,  interwo- 
ven with  y/onderful  art  and  ingenuity.  She  thinking 
it  had  been  a  repetition  of  the  ardour  of  his  affe^ion, 
took  it,  and  put  it  in  her  bofom  with  all  the  marks  of 
tenderHel's,  by  which  the  fair  fex  in  all  countries  know 
how  to  reward  all  the  pains  of  their  lovers  in  a  mo- 
ment. Upon  this  he  refolved  to  afk  her  of  her  pa- 
rents, which  was  the  only  thing  neceflary  on  his  fide, 
the  woman  having;  a  rij^ht  to  demand  anv  man's  fon  in 
the  kingdom,  if  he  hadbut  prefcnted  her  with  the  lad 
mark  of  his  affedion.  The  elder  brother  having  giv-- 
en  in  his  fome  time  before,  thought  the  parents  ap* 
probation  was  the  only  thing  wanting  on  his  lide,  and 
refolves  the  fame  day  on  the  fame  thing.  They  were 
ftrangely  furprized  to  meet  one  another ;  but  feeing 
the  different  favours.,  they  did  not  know  what  ta- 
make  of  it.  When  the  father  came,  they  declared- 
the  caufe  of  their  coming,  in  terms  which  fully  ex- 
pr^fled  the  agony  of  their  minds:  the  father  was  in 
as  great  concern  as  they  were,  aifuring  them  that  he 
had  but  one  daughter,  who  he  was  confident  would 
never  give  fuch  encouragement  to  two  lovers  at  the  • 
fame  time,  contrary  to  their  laws  ;  but  feeing  their 
extreme  likencfs,  he  guelTcd  there  muil  be  fome  mif- 
take.  Upon  this  the  daughter  was  fent  for,  who  be- 
ing informed  it  was  to  declare  her  confent  in  the 
choice  of  her  lover,  iTie  came  down  with  four  flowers 
in  her  bofom,  not  thinking  but  the  two  full-blown  had 
belonged  to  the  fame  perlon,  fmce  (he  had  received 
two  before  file  had  worn  the  firfl.  The  defcription 
the  poets  give  of  the  goddefs  of  Venus  riling  out  of 
the  fea,  could  not  be  more  beautiful  than  the  bloom 
that  appeared  in  her  checks. when  flie  came  into  the 
room.  1  happened  to  be  there  prefent,  being  f«nt 
before  by  tiic  Pophar,  to  let  the  father  know  of  the 
regent's  intended  vifit  i  that  being  a  coniiderable   of» 


lyS  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

ficcr,  lie  miglit  order  liis  concerns  accordingly.  As 
foon  as  the  young  huly  licard  the  cauie  of  their  com- 
ing, and  faw  them  iiidiftinguiftiably  like  each  other, 
with  the  public  fignsofher  favours  wrought  with  her 
own  hand,  which  they  brouglit  along  with  them,  fiie 
fcrcamed  out — '  I  am*  betrayed  I'  and  immediately 
fell  in  a  fwoon,  flat  on  the  floor,  almoft  between  her 
two  lovers.  The  father,  in  a  condition  very  little 
"better,  fell  down  by  his  daughter,  and  bathing  her 
with  his  tears,  calied  to  her  to  open  her  eyes,  or  he 
mufl:  die  alonn:  with  her.  The  voun»  men  ftood  like 
ilatues,  with  rage  and  dcfpair  in  thc-ir  looks  at  the 
fame  time.  I  being  the  only  indilVerent  pedbn  in  the 
room,  though  cxtremclv  furpri?,cd  at  the  event,  cal- 
led her  mother  and  women  to  come  to  her  afliflance  ; 
who  carried  her  into  another  room,  undrefled  her, 
jihd  l>y  proper  remedies  brouglit  her  at  lall  to  herlelf. 
The  firfl  word  flie  faid  was — ^  Oh,  Berilla  I  what  have 
'  you  done?'  Ail  the  reft  was  nothing  but  fobs  and 
fighs,  enough  to  melt  the  hardeft  heart.  When  fhxj 
"was  in  a  condition  to  explain  herielf,  flie  declared, 
file  liked  the  perfon  of  the  man  who  went  up  with 
her  to  the  altar;  that  fome  time  after,  the  fame  per- 
fon, as  Ihe  thov'ght,  had  prefented  her  with  the  flrft 
inarks  of  his  aflV<flion,  wiiich  Ihe  ticcepted  of,  and  in 
flne  had  given  lx.'rconfent  by  wearing  the  full  blown 
flrtwer  ;  but  which  of  the  two  brothers  it  belonged  to 
file  could  not  tell ;  adding,  that  ihe  was  willing  to  fub- 
jTjit  to  the  decilion  of  tlie  elders,  or  to  undergo  what 
puniflimenl  they  thought  fit  for  her  heedlefs  indifcre- 
tion  ;  but  proteftedthat  flic  never  defigned  to  cnler- 
tain  two  perfuns  at  the  fame  time,  but  took  them  to 
be  the  fame  perfon.  The  care  of  their  marriages  be- 
ing one  of  the  fundamentals  of  their  government, 
and  there  being  no  provifion  in  the  law  for  this  ex- 
traordinary cafe,  tjie  matter  was  referred  to  the  Po- 
phar  regent,  who  was  to  be  there  in  a  few  days  :  — 
guards  m  the  mean  time  were  fet  over  the  brotliers. 


QAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  IJ-.g 

^or  fear   of  mifchief,    till  a   full   hearing. 

The  affair  was  difcuffed. before  the  Pophar  regent, 
and  the  reft  of  the  elders  of.  the  place*  The  three 
-lovers  appeared  before  them,  each,  in  fiich  agony,  as 
cannot  be  expreffed.  The  brothers  were  fo  alike,  it 
was  hard  to  diftinguifn  one  from  the  other  :  the  regent 
afked  them,  which  of  the  two  went  up  to  the  altar 
with  the  young  lady ;  the  elder  faid  it  was  he,  which 
the  younger  did  not  deny  ,;  the  lady  being  interroga- 
ted, owned  flie  defigned  to  entertain  the  perfon  that 
went  up  with  her  to  the  altar,  but  went  no  further 
than  the  firil,  liking.  Then  they  allied  wliich  of  the 
two  brothers  gave  the,  firft  flower ;  the  younger  faid, 
he  perfumed  he  did,  lince  he  ft-ll  in  love  with  her  as 
fhe  went  down  the  ranks,  and  contrived  to  give  her 
the  flower  as  fqpn  as  the  ceremony  was  over,  not 
knowing  of  hjs  brother's  affe<^ion,. neither  did  flie 
bear  any  mark  of  engagements,  but  accepted  of  his 
iervice  ;  the  lady  like  wife  owning  the  receipt  offuch 
a  flower,  but  that  flie  loft  it,  fainting  away  in  the 
crowd  ;  but  vyhen,  as  (he  thought,  he  reftored  it  to 
her,  flie  did  not  like  him  quite  fo  well,  as  when  flie 
received  it  the  firft  time,  fuppoling  them  to  be  the 
•fame  perfon,  .Being  alked  who  gave  her  the  fecondj 
phird,  and  laft  mark  of  engagement,  it  appeared  to  be 
the  younger  brother,  whofe  flower  flie  ware  publicly 
in  her  bofom ;  but  then  flie  received  the  full-blown 
fi  jwcr  from  the  elder  brother  alfo.  The  judges  look- 
ed at  one  another  for  foipe  time,  not  knowing  well 
what  to  fay  to  the  matter.  .Then  the  regent  aiked 
her,  when  flie  gave  her  confent,  if  ihe  did  not  under- 
fland  the  perfon  to  be  him  that  went  up  with  her  ta 
tlie  altar.  ■$he  owned  ihe  did  ;  which  was  the  elder; 
but  in  facl,  had  placed  her  affections  on.;  the  perfon 
who  gave  her  the  lirft  flower,  which  was  the  younger.' 
Then  the  two  brothers  were  placed  before  her,  and 
flie  was  aflced,  that,  fuppofmg  flie  were  now  at  liberty, 
without  any  engagement,  which  of  the  tvvoLrotUer* 


iSo  CAITDENTTO    DI    LUCCA, 

•fhc  would  chufc  for  her  hufband  ?  She  flopt,  vaA 
bluflicd  at  the  qucllion  ;  but  at  length  laid,  the  youn- 
:ger  had  bct-n  more  alliduous  in  his  courtfhip;  and  with 
that  burft  into  tears,  cafting  a  look  at  the  younger 
ijrother,  which  eafily  ihcwtd  the  fenlimcnts  of  her 
heart.  F.vciy  oiie  was  in  the  laft  fufpenfe  how  the 
regent  would  determine  the  cafe  ;  and  the  young  men 
exprcflcd  fuch  a  concern  in  their  looks,  ns  if  tlic  final 
-femence  of  life  and  death,  happincfs  or  nafcry,  was 
to  be  ])ronounccd  to  them  :  when  the  regent,  with  a 
countenance  partly  fevere  as  well  as  grave,  turning 
towards  the  young  lady — *•  Daughter,'  fwd  he,  *  your 
•*  ill   fortune,  or  indilcretion,  has  deprived  you  from 

*  having  either  of  them  :  both  you  cannot  have,  and 

*  you  have  given  both  an  equal  right  :  if  either  of 
'  them  will  give  up  their  right,  you   may  marry  the 

*  other  not  ehe. — What  do  you  fay,  fons-'  fays  he, 
'  will  you  contribute  to  make  one  of  you  happy  V 
They  both  perfifted  they  would  not  give  up  their 
right  till  the  lull  gaip.  *  Then,*  lays  the  regeiu,  turn- 
ing to  the  lady,  who  was  almoft  dead  with  fear  and 
confufion,  *  fince  tieithcr  of  them  will  give  up  their 

*  right,  I  pronounce  fcntence  on  you,  to  be  Ihut  up 

*  from  the  commerce  of  men,  till  the  death  of  one  of 

*  your  lovers  ;  then  it  fhall  be  left  to  your  choice  to 
'  marry  the  furvivor.'  So  giving  or^Wrs  to  have  her 
taken  away,  the  court  was  going  to  break  up,  when 
the  younger  brother,  falling  on  his  knees,  cries  out — 

*  I  yield  my  right,  ratlier  than  the  adorable  Berilla 
*"  fliould  be  miferable  on  my  account  ;  let  me  be  (hut 
'  up  from  the  commerce  of  men,  for  being  the  occali- 

*  on  of  fo  divine  a  creature's   misfortune. — Brother, 

*  take  her,  and  be  happy — And  you,  divine   Berilla, 

*  only   pardon  the  confufion  my    innocent    love  has 

*  brought  upon  you  ;  and  then  I  fliall  leave  the  world 
*•  in  peace.'  Here  the  whole  court  rofe  up,  and  the 
young  man  was  going  out,  when  the  regent  Itopped 
him.     '  Hold,  fon,'    fays  he,  *  there  is  a  greater  hap- 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  ISX 

*  pinefs  pi'eparing  for  you  than  you  expe£l ;  Berilla  is 

*  yours  ;  you  alone  deferve  her,  you  prefer  her  good 

*  to  your  ov/n  ;  and  as  I  find  her  real  love  is  for  you, 
'  here  join  your  hands,  as  I  find  your  hearts  are  al- 
'  ready.'  They  were  married  immediately  ;  the  re- 
gent leaving  behind  him  a  vaft  idea  not  only  of  his 
juftice,  but  wifdom,  in  fo  intricate  a  cafe.  I  drew  an 
hiftorical  piece  ofpaintingof  this  remarkable  trial,  ex- 
prefling  as  nigh  as  I  could  the  poftures  and  agonies  of 
the  three  lovers,  and  prcfented  it  to  the  divine  Ify- 
phena,  the  regent's  daughter,  telling  her,  that  if  flie 
were  to  accept  the  flowers,  as  that  young  lady  did, 
flie  would  ruin  all  the  youths  of  Mezorania.  Slie 
received  it  blufliing,  and  faid  flie  fliould  never  receive 
any  but  from  one  hand,  nor  even  that  if  flie  thought 
ftie  fliould  do  him  any  harm  ;  adding,  that  flie  thought 
her  father  had  given  a  juft  judgment  ;  then  waved 
the  difcourfe  with  fueh  innocence,  yet  knowledge  of 
what  flie  laid,  that  I  was  furprized  to  the  laft  de- 
gree J  not  being  able  to  guefs  whether  I  had  offend- 
ed her  or  not. 

Thcfe  vifitations  in  the  company  of  the  Pophar, 
gave  me  an  opportunity  of  feeing  all  the  diflferent 
jiarts  and  chief  curiofities  of  the  whole  empire.  Their 
great  towns,  efpecially  the  heads  of  every  Nome^ 
were  built,  as  I  faid,  much  after  the  lame  form,  differ- 
ing chiefly  in  the  fltuation,  and  are  principally  defign- 
ed  for  the  winter  refidence,  for  their  courts  and  col- 
leges, but  particularly  for  inftruding  and  polifliing 
their  youth  of  both  fexes,  and  fuch  admirable  care 
and  (Economy,  to  avoid  all  diflblutenefs  and  idlenefs,. 
that,  as  I  obferved  before,  there  is  no  fuch  thing 
known,  as  for  perfons  to  have  no  other  bufinefs  on 
their  hands  but  viflts  and  drefs :  efl:ceming  thole  no 
better  than  brutes  and  barbarians,  who  are  not  con- 
Itantly  employed  in  improving  their  natural  talents 
in  fome  art  or  fcicnce.     Their  villas,  or  places  of  plea« 

Q. 


l82  GAUDZNTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

fure,  arc  fcattered  all  over  the  country,  with  mcft: 
beautiful  variety  :  the  villages  and  towns  built  fornaa- 
nufuclures,  tmSes,  convcnicncy  of  agriculture,  he,  aie 
innumerable  ;  their  canals,  and  great  lakes.  Tome  of 
ihcm  like  little  feas,  are  very  frequent,  according  as 
the  nature  of  the  coiintr)'  will  allow  ;  with  pltaiiire 
lioules  and  pavilions,  built  at  ducdiflances,  round  the 
borders,  interfperfed  with  iflands  x'.nd  groves  fome 
natural,  fome  artificial,  where  at  proper  fealbns  you 
might  lee  thoufands  of  boats  (kimming  bacV\vards  and 
forwards,  both  forplcalure  and  the  profit  of  catching 
lifli,  of  which  there  is  an  inexhaullible  ftore.  There 
tire  alfo  vaft  forclts  of  infinite  variety  and  delight,  dif" 
tinguiflud  here  and  tTierc  with  theatrical  fpaces  or 
lawns,  either  natural,  or  cut  out  by  art,  for  the  con- 
veniency  of  pitching  their  tents  in  the  hot  fealons  ; 
vith  fuch  romantic  fcenes  of  deep  vales,  hangiiig 
woods,  and  precipices,  natural  falls,  and  cal'cadcs,  or. 
rather  cataracls  cf  water  over  the  rocks,  that  all  tlae. 
decorations  of  art  are  nothing  but  foils  and  fliaduws. 
to  thofemajeftic  beauties  of  nature  ;  belldes  glorious 
prorpe(fis  of  different  kinds  over  the  edges  of  tiie  moun- 
tains where  we  pafied  in  our  vifitations,  fbrnetim,e.s, 
prclenting  us  -wiih  a  boupdleis  view  over  t1ie  moift: 
delicious  plains  in  the  world  ;in  other  places,  having* 
our  view  terminated  with  ptber  "winding  hills,  exhal- 
ing their  reviving  perfumes  from  innumerable  fpecies 
of  natural  fruits  and  odoriferous  (lirubs.  Travelling 
thus  by  eafy  jt-urneys,  itaying  or  advancing  in  our 
progrels  as  we  thought  fit,  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
jidmiring  with  infinite  delight  the  effeifls  of  induftry 
and  liberty,  in  a  country  w^here  nature  and  art  iccm- 
ed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  their  different  produ£li- 
©ns.  There  was  aiiother  extraordinary  latisfadion  I 
received  in  thefe  vifitations,  which  was,  the  oppor- 
tunity of  feeing,  and  partaking  of  their  grand  matches, 
or  rather  companies,  if  I  may  ufe  the  expreilion,  of 
hunting  and  fi^ung.     All  the  ypUog  people  with  their 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCGA.  I  8 J 

^vernors,  or  all   who  are  able  or  willing  to  go,  at 
particular  feafons  difperfe  themfeives  for  thefe  hunts 
all  over  the  kingdom  :  the  country  being  lb  prodigi- 
ous fertile,  that  it  furniQies  them,  almoft  fpontaneoufly, 
with  whatever  is  heeefllxry,  or  even  deleilable  for  life, 
the  people  living  in  fome  meafure  in  common,  and 
having  no  other  intereft  but  that  of  a  well  regulated 
Community.     They  leave  the  towns  at  certaiM  fea- 
fons, and  go  and  live  in  tents  for  the  conveniencyof 
hunting  and  fiihing;   according  as    the    country  and 
feafons  are  proper  for  each  recreation  :  the  flat  part 
of  the  country  (though  it  is  generally  more  hilly  than 
campaign)  is  itocked  with  prodigious  quantities  of 
fowl  and  game,  as  pheafants,  partridges  of  different 
kinds,  m\ich  larger  than  our  wild  hens  ;  turkeys,  and 
peacocks,  with  other  fpecies  of  game,  which  we  have 
not  in  Italy  ;  hares  almoft  innumerable,  but  no  conies 
that  ever  I  faw,,  unlets  vyexalj  conies  a  lefT^^rfcrlGf 
hare,  which  feed  anJ'run  along  the  clifis  and  rockb, 
but  do  rot  burrow  as  ours  do.     There  ir,  alfoafmall 
fort  of  v/ild  goat,  much  lefs  than  ours,  not  very  fleet, 
of  a  very  high  tafte,  and  prodigious  fat.     They   take 
vaft  quantities  of  all  forts,  but  Hill  leave  a  fufficieni 
ftoc\-  to  Ijpply  next  fealbn,    except  hurtful  beads, 
whicK  they  kill  whenever  they  can.     But  their  great 
huuts  jxre  in  the  mountains  and  woodland  parts  of  the 
conn  try,  where  the  forelts  are  full  of  infinite  quanti- 
ties of  mail  and  fruits,  and  other  food  for  wild  beafts 
of  all  kinds  ;  but  particularly  ftags  of  four  or  five  dif- 
ferent fpecies,  fome  of  which,  almofl  as  big  as  a  horfe, 
keep  in  the  wildeft  parts,    whofe  flefli  they  dry  and 
feafonwith  Ipices,  and  is  the  richeft  food  I  ever  tail- 
ed.    Their  wild  fwine  are  oftvv'o  kinds,  folne  valUy 
large,  others  very  little,  not  much  bigger  than  a  lamb, 
but  prodigious  fierce.     This  laft  is  moil  delicate  meat, 
feeding,  on  thji  mads    and  wild  fruits  in  the  thickeit 
parts  of  thegroves;  and  multlplyingexceedingly, where 
the/  ar^  not  dillurbed,  one  fow  bringing  fixteen  ot 


184  CAUDENTIO    pi    LUCCA. 

eighteen  pigs  ;  fo  that  I  linve  fcen  thoufands  of  them 
cnught  at  one  hunting-match,  and  fcnt  in  prcfcnts  to 
the  other  pnrts  of  the  kingdom,  where  they  have 
none  ;  which  is  their  way  in  all  their  recreations,  hav- 
ing perfons  r.ppointed  to  carry  tlic  rarities  of  the 
country  to  one  nnothcr,and  to  the  governors,  parents, 
and  friends  left  behind.  AVhen  they  go  out  to  their 
grand  hunt,  they  feek  fome  open  vale,  or  raft  lawn, 
as  far  in  the  wild  forefts  as  they  can  ;  wIktc  they 
pitch  their  tents,  and  make  their  rendezvous  :  then 
they  lend  out  their  mod  courageous  young  men,  in 
fmall  bodies  of  ten  in  a  company,  well  armed,  each 
with  his  fpear  and  his  fufil  llung  on  his  back,  which 
lafl  of  late  years  they  find  more  fcrviceable  againft  the 
wild  beads  than  fpcars,  having  got  famplcs  of  them 
from  Perfia.  Thefe  go  quietly  througli  the  wildcft 
parts  of  the  foreft  at  proper  diftanccs,  lo  as  to  meet  at 
fuch  a  place,  which  is  to  view  the  ground,  and  find  a 

....«v,»_   lJ»«J|yv.i.    vw  *.iUl\C   tilV-11    i.vi*A.w,  viiio.  jy»».l-ll  U. 

They  are  often  feveral  days  out  about  this  ;  but  are 
to  make  no  noifc,  nor  kill  any  wild  beaft,  unleljs  at- 
tacked or  they  come  upon  him  in  his  couch,  at  una- 
wares, that  they  may  not   difturb  the   reft.     When 
they  have  made    their  report,  feveral  thoufands  of 
them  lurround  a  confiderable  part  of  the  foreft,  ftand- 
ingclofe  together  for  their  mutual  alTiftance,  making 
as  great  a  noife  as  they  can,  with  dogs,  drums,  and 
rattles,  and  other  noily  inftrumcnts,  to  frighten  the 
game  towards  the  centre,  that  none  may  efcapc  the 
circle.     When  this   is  done,  all  advance  in  a  breaft, 
)cncouragirtg  th«ir    dogs,  founding  their  horns,  beat- 
ing their  drums  and  rattUs,  that  the  moft  courage- 
ous beafts  are  all  routed,  and  run  before  them  towards 
"the  centre,  till  by  this  means  they  have  driven  toge- 
ther feveral  hundreds  of  wild   bcafts,  lions,    tigers^ 
elks,  wild  boars,  ftags,   foxes,  hares,  and  in  fine  all 
forts  of  beafts  that  were  within  that  circle.     It  is  moft 
terriUe  to  fee  fuch  a  heap  of  cruel  beafts  gathered. 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LlTCCA.  I85 

together,  grinning  and  roaring  at  one  another,  in  a 
mod  frightful  manner  :  but  the  wild  boar  is  the  maf- 
ter  of  all ;  whoever  comes  near  him  in  that  rage,  even 
the  largeft  lion,  he  ftrikes  at  him  with  his  tufks  and 
makes  him  keep  his  dittance.  When  they  arc  brought 
within  a  proper  compafs,  they  pilch  their  toils  round 
them,  andinclofe  them  in,  every  man  joining  clofe  to 
his  neighbour,  holding  out  their  fpearsto  keep  tkem 
off.  If  any  beaft  ftiould  endeavour  to  make  his  efcape, 
which  fome  will  do  now  and  then,  (particularly  the 
wild  boars)  they  run  againft  the  points  of  the  fpears, 
and  make  very  martial  fport. 

I  was  told,  that  a  prodigious  wild  fow  once  broke 
through  three  files  of  fpears,  overturned  the  men, 
and  made  a  gap,  that  fet  all  the  reft  a  running  almoft 
in  a  body  that  way,  fo  that  the  people  were  forced 
to  let  them  take  their  career,  and  loft  all  their  labour. 
But  now  th6y  have  men  ready  with  their  fufils  to 
drop  any  beaft  that  Ihould  offer  to  turn  a-head.  When 
ihey  are  enclofed,  there  is  moft  terrible  work,  the 
greateft  beafts  fighting  and  goring  one  another,  foF 
rage  and  fpite,  and  the  more  fearful  running  into  the 
toils  for  ihelter.  Then  our  men  with  their  fufils 
drop  the  largeft  as  faft  as  they  can.  When  they  in- 
tend to  ftioot-the  wild  boar,  three  or  four  aim  at  hina. 
at  a  time,  to  be  fure  to  drop  him  or  difable  him, 
otherwife  he  runs  full  at  the  laft  that  wounded  him, 
with  fuch  fury,  that  fometimes  he  will  break  through 
the  ftrongeft  toils  ;  but  his  companions  all  join  their 
fpears  to  keep  him  off.  AVhen  they  have  dropped  all 
that  are  dangerous,  and  as  many  as  they  have  a  mind, 
they  open  their  toils,  and  diipatch  all  that  are  gafp- 
ing.  I  have  known  above  five  hua4i"ed  head  of  beafts 
of  all  forts  killed  in  one  day.  When  all  is  over,  they 
carry  of  their  fpoil  to  the  rendezvous,  feafting  and 
rejoicing,  and  fending  prefents  as  before. 

Thi^rc  is  often  times  very  great  dan^t?r,  when  they 


lS6  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

go  through  the  woods  to  make  difcovcry  of  their 
liaunts  ;  btcaule,  ifin  fmall  companies,  fome  ftubbom 
beaflor  other  will  attack  them  dire£lly  ;  every  man, 
therefore,  as  I  faid,  has  a  fufil  flung  at  his  back,  and 
liis  fpear  in  his  hand  for  his  defence.  Being  once  in 
one  of  their  parties,  we  came  upon  a  prodigious  wild 
boar,  as  he  was  lying  in  his  haunt ;  fome  of  us  were 
for  pafling  by  him,  but  I  thought  luch  a  noble  prey 
was  not  to  be  let  go  ;  fo  we  furrounded  him,  and 
drew  up  to  him,  with  more  courage  and  curio fity  than 
j.rudence  :  one  of  my  companions,  who  was  my  in- 
timate friend,  being  one  of  tliofo  who  conducled  m.e 
over  the  defarts,  went  up  nigher  to  him  than  the  reft, 
with  liis  fpear  in  hia  hand,  ftretched  out  ready  to  re- 
ceive him  ;  at  which  the  beaft  Uarted  up  of  a  fudden, 
vith  a  noifc  that  would  have  terrified  the  ftouteft  he- 
10,  and  made  at  him  with  fucli  afuiy,  that  we  gave 
h'lm  over  for  loft,  lie  ftood  his  ground  with  fo  much 
courage,  and  held  his  ipcarfo  firm  andexai^l,  that  he 
ran  it  dire(ftly  up  t]\e  mouth  of  the  beaft,  quite  intp 
the  inner  part  of  his  throat ;  the  boar  roared  and  fliook 
liis  head  in  a  terrible  manner,  endeavouring  to  get  the 
fpcar  out,  which  if  he  had  done,  all  the  world  could 
not  have  laved  the  young  man.  I,  feeing  the  danger, 
jan  in  with  the  fame  precipitancy,  and  clapping  the 
ciuzzle  of  my  gun  almoft  clofe  to  hia  fide,  a  little  be- 
hind his  fortflioulder,  fliot  him  quite  through  the  be 
dy  ;  fo  he  dropped  down  dead  before  us.  Juft  as  we 
thought  the  danger  was  over,  the  fow,  hearing  hia 
icry,  came  rufliing  on  us,  nndthat  fo  fuddenly,  that 
betorc  I  could  turn  myfelf  with  my  fpear,  Ihe  ftruck 
at  me  behind  with  her  fnout,  and  pufbing  on,  knock- 
ed me  down  with  ^er  impetuofity  ;  and  the  place  he* 
ing  a  little  fhclving,  ftie  came  tumbling  quit*  over  me, 
twhich  was  the  occufion  qf  faving  my  life.  Afliamed 
of  the  foil,  but  very  well  njipriijed  of  tlie  danger,  I 
»v<as  fcarccgot  up  on  my  feet,  and  on  my  guard,  when 
^JAking  at  me  idonc^thowgh-my  gompanipus  canie  ia 


GAUDEUTIO    DI    LUCCA.  1 87 

to  my  aflitlance,  .flie puQied  at  me  a  fecoiid  time  with 
equal  fury.  1  held  my  Ipear  with  all  my  might,  think- 
ing to  take  her  in  the  mouth  ;  but  milling  my   aim,  I 
took  her  juft  in  the  throat,  where  the  head  and  neck 
join,  and  thruft  my  fpear  with  fuch  force,    her  own 
career  meeting  me,  that  I  ftruck  quite  through  her 
windpipe,  the  fpear  flicking  fo  faft  in  her  neck-bone, 
that  when  flie  dropt,  we  could  Icar.ce  get  it  out  again. 
She  toffed  and  reeled  her  head  a  good  while  before 
ihe  fell ;  but  her  wind-pipe  being  cut,  and  bleeding  in^ 
wardly,  (he  was  choaked.     My  companions    had  hit 
her  with  their  ipears  on  the  fides  and  back  ;  but  her 
Jiide  and  briftles  were  fo  thick  and  hard,  they  did  her 
very  little  damage.     They  all  applauded  my  .courage 
and  vidory,  as  if  I  had  killed  both  the  fwine.     But  I, 
as  juftice  required,  gave  the  greateft  part  of  the   glo- 
ry, for  the  death  of  the  boar,  to  the  courage'bus  deXf 
terity  of  the  young  man,  who  had  expofed  himfelf  fo 
generouily,  and  hit  him  fo  exaft  in  the  throat.     We 
left  the  carcafes  there,  not  being  able    to  take  theHi 
with  us  ;  but  marking  the  place,  we  came  afterward* 
with  fome  others  to  carry  them  off,     I  had  the   ho- 
nour to  carry  the  boar's  head  on  the  point  of  my  fpear; 
which  I  would  have  given  to  the  young  man,  but  he 
refufed  it,  faying,  that  I  had  not  only  killed  it,  but 
faved  his  life  into  the  bargain.     The    honour  being 
judged  to  me  by  every  one,  I  fent  it  as  a  prefeut  to 
the  divine  Ifyphena ;  a  thing  allowed  by  their  cufloms, 
though  as  yet  I  never  durft  make  any  declarations  of 
love  :  flie  accepted  of  it,  but  added,  (lie  hoped  I  would 
piake  no  more  fuch  prefents  j  and  explained   herfclf 
Uo  further. 

Thefe  people  having  no  wars,  nor  fmgle  combats 
with  one  another,  which  laft  are  not  allowed  for  fear 
of  deflroying  tlieir  own  fpecie^,  liave  no  othe* way  of 
ijiewing  their  courage  but  againft  wild  beafts,  where, 
without  waiting  for  any  exprels  order  of  their  fuperi- 
orSj  they  wUlexi:)ofc  thijinfeivps  tg  9,  gre^u degree. 


lS8  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

and  fometlmes  perform  exploits  worthy   the  greeted 
heroes. 

Their  fifliing  is  of  two  kinds  ;  one  for  recreation  and 
profit;  the  other  to  deflroy  tlie  crocodiles  aad    alli- 
gators, which  are  only  found  in  great  lakes,  and  the 
rivers  that  run  into  them,  and  that  in  the  hoter  and 
campaign  parts  of  the  country,.-'  In  fome  of  the  lakes, 
even  the  largeft,  they  cannot   live  ;  in  others    they 
breed  prodigioufly.     As  ihey  filh  for  them  only  to  de- 
ftroy  them,  they  chufe  the  prepereft  time  for  this  pur- 
pofe,  that  is,  when  the  eggs  are   hatching  ;  which  is 
done  in  the  hot  fands,  b.y  the  fides  of  the  rivers  and 
lakes.     The  old  ones  are  not  only  very  ravenous  at 
that  time,  but  lie  lurking  in  the  water  near  their  eggs, 
and  are  fo  prodigious  fierce,  that  there  is  no  taking 
their  eggs,    unlefs    you    firil  contrive  to  kill  the  old 
ones.     'I'heir  way  to  fifti  i<BY  them  is  this  :  they  beat 
at  a  diftance,  by  the  fides   of  the  rivers   and  lakes 
where  they  breed,  which  makes  the    old  ones  hide 
themfclves  in  the  water.     Then  twenty  or  thirty  of 
the  young  men  row  quietly  backward  and  forward  on 
the  water  \vhere  theyfuppofe  the  creatures  are  ;  hav- 
ing a  great  many  ftrong  lines  with  hooks,  n\ad»  after 
the  manner  of  fiili-hooks,  well    armed   as  f?Vr 'as'thtf 
throat  of  the  animal  reaches.     Thefe  hooks  they  faf- 
ten  under  the  wings  of  ducks   and  water-fowls,  kept 
for  the  purpofe,  which  they  let  drop  out  of  the  boat, 
and  fwim  about  the  lake.     Whenever  the  ducks  come 
over  the  places  where  the    creatures  are,  thefe  laft' 
ftrike  at  them,  and  fwollow  the  poor  ducks  immediate- 
ly, and  fo   hook  themfelvea  with  the  violence  and 
check  ot  the  boat.     As  foon  as  one  is  hooked,    they- 
tow  him,  floundering  and  beating  tlie  water  at  a  ilrange 
rate,  till  they  have  brought  him  into  the   middle  of 
the  wate»  at  a  didance  from  the  reft  of  his   compani- 
ons, who  all  lie  nigh  the  banks  ;  then  the  other  boats 
furround  him,  and  dart  their  harping-fpears  at  him  till 
tjiey  l^iU  him,     Thefe  harping-fpears  .are  pciii^cd  whh 


SAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  189 

the  fineft  tempered  fteel,  extremely  fharp,  with  beards 
%o  hinder  them  from  coming  out  of  his  body  ;  there 
;sa  line  faftened  to  the  fpear,  to  draw  it  back,  ,an(J 
the  creature  along  with  it  ;  as  alfo  to  hinder  the  fpear 
from  flying  too  far,  if  they  raifs  their  aim.  Some  of 
them  are  prodigious  dextrous  at  it ;  but  there  is  no 
piercing  the  creature  but  in  his  belly,  which  they 
muft  hit  as  he  flounces  and  rolls  himfelf  in  the  water. 
If  a  fpear  hits  the  fcales  of  his  back,  it  will  fly  off  as 
from  a  rock,  not  without  fome  danger  to  thofe  who 
^re  very  nigh,  though  they  generally  know  the  length 
of  the  iiriqg.  .1  ,  wa5  really  apprehenflve  of  thof$ 
(grange  fler,ce  creatures  at  firfl:,  and  as  it  was  a  confi- 
derablc  time  before  I  could  dart  with  any  dexterity  j 
but  the  defire  of  glpry,  and  the  applaufes  given  to  thofe 
that  excel,  who  have  the  ikins  carried  like  trophies 
})efore  their  miftrefTeg  ;  .tb.efe,Qnd  the  charms  of  the 
regent's  d^ughte^r,  fo  infpired  me,  that  i  n-equently 
C?.rr!cd  the  prize. 

It  is  one  o;f  xhe  fineft  recreations  in  the  world  ;  you 
might  fee  feveral  hundred  boats  at  a  time,  either  cm- 
ployed,  or  as  fpedators,  withftiouts  and  cries,  when 
the  creature  is  hit  in  the  right  place,  that  make  the 
.very  banks  tremble.  When  they  have  killed  all  the 
old  ones,  they  ft?nd  their  people  on  the  fliore,  to  rake 
for  the  eggs,  which  they  burn  and  deftroy  on  the  fpot ; 
not  but  feme  will  be  hatched  bei'ore  the  reft,  and 
creep  into  the  water,  to  ferve  forfport  the  next  year. 
They  deftroy  thefe  animals,  not  only  for  their  own 
.fecurity  in  the  u.fe  of  the  lakes,  but  alfo  to  preferve 
the  wild  fowl  and  fifti,  which  are  devoured  and  de- 
ftroyed  by  the  crocodiles. 

But  the  fifliing  on  the  great  lake  Gilgol,  or  Lake,  of 
Lakes,  is  without  any  danger  ;  there  being  no  alliga- 
tors in  that  water,  and  is  only  for  recreatio#and  the 
profit  of  the  fifli.     The  Uke  is  above  a  hundred  Ita- 


lf)6  CAUBENTIO    DI    LUCcXi 

lian  miles  in  circumference*.  At  proper  iealons,.the 
whole  lake  is  covered  with   boats,  great  nurnbers  of 
them  full  of  ladies  tpfec  the  Iport,  bcfide  what  are  on 
the  iflands  and  fliores,  with  trumpets,  hautboys,  and 
other  mufical  infcrunicnts,  playing  all  the  while.     It 
is  impoflible  to  defcribe  the  different  kinds  of  fifti  the 
lake  abounds  with  ;  many  of  them  wc  know  nothing 
of  in  Europe  ;  though  they  have  fome  like  ours,  but 
much  laiger,  as  pikes,    a    fifli    like  a  bream,  a  yard 
iind  half  over  ;  carps  forty  or  fifty  pounds  weight  j 
they  catch  incredi-ble  numbers  of  them,  lorae  kinds  ih 
one  part  of  the  la^jce,  fome  iir  another.     They  fifh  in 
this  manner,  and  after wa!tds  fc'ati  on  wHat  they  catch, 
tor  a  fortnight  or   three  weeks,  if  the  feafon  proves 
kind,  retiring  at  night  to  their  tents,  either  on  the 
iflands  or  (liore,  where  there   are  perfons  employed 
in  drying  and  curing  what  are  proper  for  ufe,;  fending 
preients  of  them  into,  ether  parts  of  the  eountry,  in 
exchange  for  venifon,  fowl,  and  .the  like.     Though 
there  are  noble  lakes   and  ponds,  even  in  the  foreils, 
made  by  the  enclofures  of  the  hills  and  woods,  that 
are  flored  with  excellent  fiili  ;  yet  they  are  entirely 
deilitute  of  the  bell  fort,  that  is,  fea  fiih,  which  we 
have  in  fuch  quantities  in  Europe'.'    When  this  fiflaing 
is  over,  they  retire  to  the  towns,  bccaufe 'of  the  rainy 
■feafons,  which  begin  prtfently  after.  " 

I  am  now  going  to  enter  on  a  part  of  my  life,  which 
1  ani  in  fome  doubt,  whether  it  is  proper  to  lay  be- 
fore your  Reverences  or  not  :  I  mean  the  hopes  aitd 
fears,  the  joys  and  anxieties,  of  a  young  man  in  love  ; 
but  in  an  honourable  way,  with  no  lei's  aperi«;n  than  the 
daughter  of  the  regent  of  this  vaft  empire..!  Ihall  nt)t  how*- 
€ver  enter  into  tlie  detail  of  the  many  Various  clrcuui- 

*TheTAke  Meris  rii  Egypt,  according  to  Diodorus  Sicu- 
his  and  Herodotus,  quoted  by  the  Bifljop  of  Me;iux  (His. 
Uni.  Sect.  3.)  was  a  hundred  and  fouilcoje  French ieigims 
in  iircuiufcreAce* 


GAUDENTIO    BI  LUOCA.  I9I 

^ ^fiances  attending  fuch  a  paffipn  ;  but  fliall  jud  touch  on 
ibme  particular  paflages,  which  were  very  extraor- 
jdinary  even  in  a  paliion  which  generally  of  itlelf  runs 
into  extremes.  Your  Reverences  will  remember, 
that  there  is  no  real  dilHndion  of  quality  in  thefe 
people,  nor  any  regard  eitlier  to  intereft  or  dignity, 
but  merely,  to  perfonal  merit ;  their  chief,  view  being 
to  render  thatiiate  happy  vvhich  makes  up  the  better 
part  of. human  Jifc.  I  had  nothing  therefore  to  do 
in  this  aFair,  but  to  fix  my  choice,  and  endeavour  to 
pleaie  and  be  pleafed.  My  choice  was  fopn  deter- 
mined ;  the  firft  time  I  faw  the  incomparable  Ifyphe- 
na,  the  regent's  daughter,  though  (lie  was  then  but 
ten  years  old,  ten  thouland  budding  beauties  appear- 
ed in  her,  with  fuch  unutterable  charms,  that  though 
I  as  good  ^s  defpaired  of  arriving  at  n\y  wiibed  for 

j.happine£s,  I  wasreibived  to  fix.  there,  or  nowhere. 
:    lobferved,  when  I  was  firft  introduced  into  her 

.  company  by.  the  regent  her  father,  that  (lie  had  her 
eye  fixed  on  me,  as  a  ftranger,  as  I  fuppofed,  but  yet 
with  more. thati  a  girlifli  curiofity.  I  was  informed 
afterwards,  that  flie  told  her  play-fellows,  that  that 
ftranger  (liould  be  her  hufbapd,  or  no -one.  The  wife 
Pophar.her  .father  had  obferved  it  ;  and  whether  it 
)!y-as  from  his  knowledge  , of  the  fex,  and^  their  unac- 
QQuntable  fondnets  for  It  rangers,  or  whether  he  dif- 
approved  of  the  thought,  I  cannot  tell,  but  he  was  re- 
folved  to  try  both  our  conllancies  tp  the  utmoil.  I 
was  obliged  by  the  Pophar  to  teach  her  and  fome 
other  young  ladies,  as  well  as  fome  young  men,  to 
paint  ;  but  it  was  always  in  the  father  or  mother's 
company.  Not  to  detain  your  Reverences  with  mat* 
ters  quite  foreign  to,  and  perhaps  unworthy  your 
cognizance,  it  was  five  years  before  I  durft  let  her  lee 
the  leaR  glimqiering  of  my  affection.  She  was  now 
fifteen,  which  was  the  height  of  her  bloom.  Her  fa- 
ther feeing  (he  carried  no  mark  of  any  engagement, 
a^edher  in  a  familiar  way,  if  her  eyes  had  madie  flp. 


i 


192  CAUDEXTTO    DT    LUCCA. 

conqucfts  :  flic  bluflied,  and  fr.id  (lie  hoped  not.  lis 
lold  me  alfo  as  a  h  iend,  that  I  was  older  than  their 
cuftoms  cared  to  allow  young  men  to  live  (ingle,  and 
withn  I'mile,  nfkcd  me,  if  the  charms  of  the  BafTa's 
daughter  of  Grand  Cairo  had  extingiiiflied  in  me  all 
thoughts  of  love.  1  told  him  there  were  obje£ls 
enough  in  Mezorania  to  make  one  forget  any  thing 
one  had  feen  before,  but  that  being  a  l\rangcr,  I  was 
^vii]inglo  be  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  genius 
of  the  people,  loll:  I  fhould  make  any  one  unhappy.  I 
•was  jull  come  back  from  one  of  our  vititations,  when 
I  was  ftruck  witli  tlie  moiUivelv  fenl'e  of  siricf  I  ever 
felt  in  my  life.  I  had  always  obfervcd  before,  that 
Ifyphena  never  wore  any  fign  of  engagement,  but 
then  I  found  (lie  carried  a  bud  in  her  bofom.  I  fell  ill 
immediately  upon  it ;  which  flic  perceiving,  came  to 
fee  mc  without  any  bud,  as  flie  ufcd  to  go  before, 
keeping  her  eyes  upon  me  to  fee  what  cffe6l  it  would 
have.  Seeing  her  continue  without  any  marks  of  en- 
gagement, I  recovered  and  made  bold  to  tell  her  one 
clay,  that  I  could  not  but  pity  the  miferable  perfon, 
whoever  he  was,  who  had  lolt  the  place  in  her  bofom, 
he  had  before  ;  (he  laid  unconcernedly,  that  both  the 
wearing  and  taking  away  the  flower  from  her  bofom^ 
vas  done  out  of  kindnefs  to  the  perfon.  I  was  then 
fo  taken  up  with  contrary  thoughts,  that  I  did  not  per* 
ctive  Ihe  meant  to  try  whether  Ihc  was  the  objo^  of 
my  thoughts  or  not.  However,  finding  flie  carried 
no  more  marks  of  engagement,  I  w^as  refolvedto  try 
my  fortune  for  life  or  death  j  when  an  opportunity 
oiiered  beyond  my  wifli.  Her  mother  brought  her 
to  perfc<5l  a  piece  of  painting  (he  was  drawing  :  I  ob- 
fervcd a  melancholy  and  trouble  in  her  countenance 
1  had  never  feen  before  ;  that  moment  the  mother* 
was  fent  for  to  the  regent,  and  I  made  ufe  of  it  to  afic' 
lier,  what  it  was  that  afl'eded  her  in  ib  feniible  a  man-- 
ner.  I  pronounced  thefe  words  with  fuch  emotion  and 
concern  on  my  own  part,  that  flic  ihight  ealily  feel* 


GAUDENTIO  DI    LUCCA  ^  Ifj^ 

-WTiS  in  fome  very  great  agony.  She  exprefTed  a  gre»ai; 
deal  of  confalion  at  the  queftion,  iniomuch,  that,  with- 
out anfwering  a  word,  flie  got  up  and  went  out  of  tlie 
room,  leaving  me  leaning  againd  the  wall  almoft  with- 
out life  or  motion.  Other  company  coming  m,  I  was 
rouzed  out  of  my  let  hargy,  and  flunk  away  to  my  own 
apartment,  but  agitated  with  fuch  numberleis  fears, 
as  left  mc  almoil  deftitute  of  reafon.  However,  I 
was  refolved  to  make  a  mod  juit  difcovery,  and  to  b^ 
fully  determined  in  my  hfippinefs  or  mifery.  Thei^ 
was  a  grated  window  on  the  back  fide  of  place,  where 
I  had  feen  Ifyphena  walk  fometimes,  but  never  dared 
to  approach  ;  I  went  thither  in  the  evening  and  feeing 
her  by  herfelf,  I  ventured  to  it,  and  falling  on  my 
knees,  a&ed  her,  for  heaven's  lake,  what  was  the 
matter,  or  if  I  had  ofFended  her?  She  immediately 
burft  into  tears,  and  juft  faid — 'Aik  no  more,' and 
withdrew,- though  I  cannot  lay  with  any  figns  ofin- 

.  dignation.  Some  time  after,  I  was  lent  for  to  in- 
ftru£l  her  in  the  iinifhing  of  her  piece.  1  muft  tell 
your  Reverences,  that  I  had  privately  drawn  that 
pi6lure  of  her  which  you  faw,  and  put  the  little  boy 
in  afterwards.  In  a  hurry  I  had  left  it  behind  me  ia 
my  cloiet,  and  the  Pophar  finding  it  by  accident,  had 
taken  it  away  without  my  knowledge,  and  fliewn  it  to 
the  mother  ;  and  making  as  if  he  did  not  mind  Ky- 
pliena,  who  ftood  by,  and  faw  it  (as  flie  thought,  un- 
difcerned)  feemed  to  talk  in  a  threatening  tone  to  the 
mother  about  it.  When  I  came  in,  I  had  juft  courage 
enough  to  call  one  glance  at  Ifyphena,  when  methought, 
I  faw  her  eyes  meet  mine,  and  fliew  a  mixture  of  com- 
fort and"  trouble  at  the  fame  time.  As  this  lubje£l 
cannot  be  very  proper  for  your  Reverences'  ears,  I 
lliall  comprife  in  half  an  hour  what  coil  me  whole 
years  of  fighs  and  folicitude,  though  happily  crowned 
at  laO;  with  unfpeakable  joys.  This  trouble  in  Ify- 
phena  was,  that  having  made  herfelf  miftrefs  of  the 
;pencil,  (he  had  privately  drawn  my  pi«5lure  in  miuia- 

R 


194  GAUDEN'TIO    DI    LUCCA. 

lure,  wlilch  flic  kept  Tccrclly  in  licr  bofon,  nnd  it  hav- 
ing been  difcoverecl  by  the  rrjolhcr,  as  that  which  I 
l;ad  drawn  was  by  the  father,  to  try  hcrconftancy  he 
had  cxprcflcd  the  utmoft  iiidignaticm  at  it  :  but  liy- 
]/hena's  grcateft  trouble  was,  kll  1  fliould  know,  aud 
take  it  for  a  difcovery  of  her  love,  before  I  had  made 
any  overtures  of  mine.     In  procefs  of  time  wc  came 
to  an  cclairciirtmcnt :  flie  received  my  two  firft  flow- 
ers ;   butbecaufe  1  was  lialf  a  llrangcr  to  ilieir  race, 
wc  were  to  give  lome   more  fignal  proof  of  our  love 
?.nd  ronllancy  than  ordiriary  :  we  had  frequently  com- 
mon occafions  ofiercd  us,  fuch  as  might  be  looked  upon 
rs  the  greateft  trials.     IShe  was  the  paragon  not  on- 
ly of  ihekirigdcm,  but  polhbly  of  the  univcrfe,  for  all 
perfe^TiioriS  tliat  could  be  found  in  the  fcx.      Her  Ma- 
ture was  about  the  midiNe  lize,  the  juft  proportion  of 
her  fliape  made  her  really  taller  than  flie  feemed  to 
be  ;  her  hair  was  black"*  indeed,  but  of  a  much  finer 
glois  than  the  reft,  of  the  fex,  nor  quite  fo  much  curl- 
ed, hanging  down  in  eafy  treiles  over  her  flioulders, 
and  fliadirig  lome  part  of  her  beautiful  cheeks.     Her 
eyes,  tliough  not  fo  large  as  our  Europeans,  darted 
fucli  luitrc,  with  a  mixture  of  fweeinefs  and  vivacity, 
that  it  was   impollible  not  to  be  charmed  with  their 
rays  ;  licr  features  we^e  notonly  the  mofl  exa(fl,  but 
Inimitable  and  peculifir  to  hericlf.      In  fine,  her  nf)fe, 
n-outh,  teeth,  turns  (f  the  face,  all  concurred   toge- 
ther to  form  the  moll  exquifitc  fymmetry,  and  adorn- 
ed with  a  bloom  Ijtyor.d  all  the  biulhes  of  the  new- 
])Orn   Aurora,  rendered  her  the  mod  charming, and 
the  molt  dangerous  objed  in  nature.     The  noblell  and 
gpjyeft   yt.uihs  of  a.li  tbe  l;.»nd  ])aid  their  homages  to 
heradcruble  perfedlions,  but  all  in  vain  :  {he  avoided 
doing  hurt  where  (he  could  do  no  good  ;  flie  did  not  fo 
much  fcorn,  as  fiiut  her  eyes  to  all  their  offers,  though 

•  'J'he  author  bci.ig  an   Italian,  did  not  thVnk  black  Iiair 
0CaulifuI. 


c'aUDENTIO    D1    LUCCA.  I95 

fuch  a  treafure  gave  me  ten  thoufand  anxieties  before 
I  knew  what  fliare  I  bad  in  it  ;  but  when  once  ilie  re- 
ceived my  addreiTes,  the  fecurity  her  conftant  virtue 
gave  me  was  proportionable  to  the  immenfe  value  of 
her  perfon.  For  my  part,  I  had  fome  trials  on  my 
lide.  I  was  furrounded  with  beauties,  who  found  a 
great  many  ways  to  fliew  me,  they  had  no  diilike  to 
me.  Whether  being  aftranger,  of  different  features 
and  make  from  their  youth,  gave  them  a  more  pleaf- 
ing  curiofity,  or  the  tallnefs  of  my  ftature,  fomething 
exceeding  any  of  theirs,  or  the  gaiety  of  my  tei»per, 
which  gave  me  a  freer  air  than  is  ufual  with  them,  be- 
■  ing,  as  I  obferved,  naturally  too  grave,  (be  that  as  it 
will)  Ifyphena's  bright  fenfe  eafily  faw  I  made  fome 
facrifices  to  her.  But  we  had  greater  trials  than 
thefe  to  undergo,  which  I  fliall  briefly  relate  to  your 
Reverences,  for  the  particularity  of  them. 

When  I  thought  I  was  almdii  arrived  at  the  height 
of  Sly  happinefs,  being  affared  of  the  heart  of  the  di- 
vine Ifyphena,  the  Pophar  came  to  me  one  day  with 
the  moil  fceming  co.ncern'in  his  couiitenance  I  ever  re- 
marked iu  him,  even  beyond  that  of  the  affair  with 
the  great  baffa's  daughter.  After  a  little  paufe,  he 
told  me,  he.  had  obferved  the  love  between  his  daugh- 
ter and  myfelf  ;  that,  oat  of  kindnefs  to  my  perfon, 
lie  had  confulted  their  wife  men  about  it,  who  all 
concluded,  that,  on  account  of  my  being  a  llranger, 
and  not  of  their  race  by  the  father's  fide,  I  could  ne- 
ver marry  his  daughter  ;  ib  that  I  muft  either  iblemn- 
ly  renounce  gJl  preten^ons  to  her,  or  be  (hut  up  for 
ever  without  any  commerce  with  his  people,  till 
death.  '  But^' fays  he,  *  to  (hew  that  we  dojuftice 
'  to  your  merit,  you  are  to  have  a  public  ftatue  ered- 

*  edin  your  honour,  becaufe  you  have  taught  us    tikj 

*  art  of  painting  ;  which  is  to  be   crowned  wltli  u 

*  garland  of  flowers  by  the  moft  beautiful  ywung  wo- 
'  man  in    the  kingdom  j  thus   you  will  live  to  glory, 

*  though  you  arc  dead  to  the  world.     But  if  you  wiU 


1^6  CAUDEXTIO    DI   LUCCA 

renounce  all  pretenfions  to  my  daughter,  we  will 

*  furnilli  you  v/ith  riches,  iufficieiit,  with  the  hand- 
"  fomtnels  of  your  pcrfon,  to  gain  the  greatcft  prin- 
'  ceCi  in  the  world,  provided  you  will  give  a  folemn 

*  oath  never  to  discover  the  way  to  this  place.'  I  fell 
down  o:i  :r,y  knees  before  liim,  and  cried  out — *  Hei'e 

*  lake  me,  (hut  me  up,  kill  nie,  cut  mc  in  a  thoufand 

*  pieces,  I  will  never  renounce  Ifyphena.'  He  faid 
no  more,  but  that  there  laws  mult  be  obeyed.  I  ob- 
fervcd  tears  in  his  eyes,  as  he  went  out,  whiwh  made 
ine  fee  be  was  in  earneft.  I  had  fcarce  time  to  refle(^ 
on  mv  miferable  llatc,  or  rnthcr  was  incapable  of  any 
rcficfiion  at  all,  when  four  peifons  came  in  with  a  dil- 
mal  heavinef^  in  their  looks,  and  bade  me  come  along 
with  ihcm  ;  they  were  to  condu£l  me  to  the  place 
of  my  confinemciit.  In  th;;  mean  time,  the  i'ophar 
goes  to  his  daughter,  and  tells  her  the  fame  things 
only  adding,  that  I  was  to  be  fent  back  to  my  own 
country,  loaded  with  fuch  immenfe  riches  as  might 
procure  me  the  love  of  any  woman  in  the  world* — 

*  F;^r,' fays  he,  '  thofe  Barbaiians,'  meaning  the  Eu- 
ropeans *  will  many  their  daughters  to  any  one  wIiq 
'  hus  biatriclics  enough  to  buy  ihem  ;  the   men  will 

*  do  the  fame  v-ith  rei"pe<^  to  the  women ;  let  tlio 
»  woman  be  whofe  daughter  Ihc  will ;  if  flic  had  but 

*  money  enough  to  purchafe  a  kingdom,  a  king  would 

*  marry  her.'  Before  he  had  pronounced  all  this, 
Hyphena  had  not  ftrength  to  hear  it  out,  but  fell  down 
in  a  fwoonat  his  feet:  when  flie  was  come  to  herfelf, 
he  endeavoured  to  comfort  her,  and  added,  that  flie 
was  to  have  the  young  Pophur's  fon,  a'  youth  about 
her  age;  for  though  he  war-  not  old  enough  to  govern, 
he  was  old  enough  to  have  children.  He  went  on 
r.nd  told  her,  I  was  to  have  a  Itatue  ere<^ed  in  honour 
of  me,  to  be  crowned  by  the  faircll  woman  in  all  Me- 
zorania  ;  *  Which,'  fays  he,  '  is  judged  to  be  yourfelf; 

*  and,  if  you  refufe  it,  Amnophilia  is  to  be  the  per- 
'  ion.'     This  was  the  molt   b^utiful  woman    next 


GAUftENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  197 

Ifyphena,  and  by  fome  thought  equal  to  her,  whole 
figns  of  approbation  and  likin^j  to  my  perfoii  I  had  ta- 
ken no  notice  of,  for  tlit  fake  of  Ifyphena.  She  an- 
I'wered  with  a  refolution  that  was  furprizing,  &veu  to 
her  father,  that  flie  would  die  before  flie  would  be 
wanting  to  her  duty,  but  that  their  laws  allowed  her 
to  chufe  whom  (lie  pleafed  for  her  hufband  without 
being  undutiful ;  that  as  for  the  crowning  of  the  ftatue, 
file 'accepted  of  it,  not  for  the  reafon  he  gave,  but 
to  pay  her  lai^  refpe^^s  to  my  memory,  who,  flia  was 
fure,  would  never  marry  any  one  clfe. '  '  As  for  the 
yoiing  Pophar,  (lie  would  give  her  anfwer  when  this 
ceremony  was  over.  When  all  things  were  ready 
for  it,  there  was  public  proclamation  made  in  all  parts 
of  the  Nome,  that  whereas  I  had  brought  into  the 
kingdom,  and  freely  commilnicated  to  them,  the  no- 
ble  art  of  painting,  1  was  to  have  a  public  ftatue  ere£b- 
ed  in  my  honour,  to  be  crowned  with  a  crown  of 
flowers  by  the  hand  of  the  faireft  woman  in  all  Me- 
zorania.  ■  Accordingly,  a  ftatue  of  full  proportion,  of 
the  fineft  poliflied  marbl®,  was  ere<^ed  in  one  of  their 
fpacious  fquares,  with  my  name  engraven  on  the  pe- 
deftal  in  golden  chara£lers,  fetting  forth  tlie  fervice 
I  had  done  the  common-wealth,  &c.  The  ftatue  had 
the  picture  of  Ifyphena  in  one  hand,  and  the  em- 
blems oftheartin  the  other.  The  laft  kindnefs  I  was 
to  receive,  was  to  be  permitted  to  fee  the  cereraohv 
with  aperipe6live  glafs,  from  the  top  of  a  high  tower 
belonging  to  the  place  ofmy  confinement,  from  whence 
I  could  difcern  every  minute  circumftance  that  palled. 
Immediately  the  crowd  opened  to  make  way  for  Hy- 
phena,  who  came  in  the  regent's  triumpliant  chariot, 
drawn  by  eight  white  horfes,  all  caparifoned  with 
gold  and  precious  ftones,  herfelf  more  refplendent 
than  the  fian  thcv  adored.  There  was  a  fcaflbld,  with 
n  throne  upon  it,  juft  clofe  to  the  ftatue,  with  gilt 
ftcps  for  hei'  to  go  up  to  put  the  ci'own  on  the  head  of 

K    2. 


19^  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA^ 

it.     As  foon  as  flie  appeared,  a  fliout  of  joy  ran  thro 
the  whole  crowd,  applauding  the  choice  of  her  beau- 
ty, and  the  work  (lie    wa*   going  to  perform  ;  than 
proclamation  was  made  again   for  the   fame    intent," 
letting  forth  the  reafons  of  the  ceremony.     When  all 
was  fdent,  flie  fteps  from  the  throne  to   the  degrees 
with  the  crown  in  her  hand,  holding  it  up  to  be  feen 
by  all,  fuppovted  by  Amnophilla  and  Mcnifa,  two  of 
the  moll  beautiful  virgins  after   herfelf.     There    ap- 
peared a  ferenity  in  the   looks   of  Ifyphena  beyond 
what  could  be  expe«^ed,  expreffing  a  fixed   refolution 
at  the  fame  time  :  as  foon  as  (lie  had  put  the  crown  on 
the  head  of  the  ftatue,  which  was  applauded  with  re- 
peated fliouts  and  accLimations,  (lie  flood  flill  forlome 
time,  with  an  air  that  fliewed  flie  was  determined  for 
fome  greataftion  ;  then  turning  to  the  officers,  order- 
ed them  to  make  proclamation,  that  every  one  Ihould 
remark  what  flie  was  going  to  do.     A   profound  fi- 
lence  enfuing  through  the  whole  aflembly,   flic  went 
up  the  fteps  again,  and  taking  out  the  moft  confpicu" 
ous  flower  in  the  whole  crown,  (irft  put  it  in  the  right- 
hand  of  the  (latue,  and  then  clapt  it  into  her  bofom,. 
with  the  other  two  flie  hud  received  from  me  before, 
as  a  fign  of  her  confenl  for  marriage,  which  could  not 
be  violated.     This  occafioned  a  fliout  ten  times  loud- 
er than  any  before,  applauding  fuch  an    heroic  a£l  of 
confl:ancy  as  had  never  been  feen  in  Mezorania.     The 
regent  ran  up  to  her,  and  embracing  her  with  tears  of 
joy  trikling  down  his  cheeks,  faid,  flie  fliouldhave  her 
choice,  flnce  flie  had  fulfilled  the  law,  and  fupplied  all 
defe£ls  by  that  extraordinary  a£l  ol  fidelity  :  and  im- 
mediately gave  orders  to  have  that  heroic  a<Slion    re- 
giilered  in  thr  public   records,  for  an  example  and  en- 
couragment  ofconflancy  to  pofl;erity.     But  the  people 
cried  out-^'  Where  is  the  man  1  where  is  tl;e  man  !  JLet 
*  their  conHancy  be  rewarded  immediately — •---' 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  1 gg 

[Here  the  reader^  as  'well  as  the  publisher^  *L\jill  la* 
ment  the  irreparable  loss  of  the  sheets  ivbich  were 
mislaid  at  bis  coming  over  ;  be  does  not  pretend 
to  charge  bis  memory  ivitb  'wbat  tkey  contained', 
just  having  bad  time  to  run  them  over  in  Italian^ 
Hvben  Signor  Rbedi  got  tbe7n  copied  out  for  bim. 
As  far  as  the  publisher  remembers^  the  lost  sheets 
contained  stveral  discourses  between  the  Popbar 
and  Gaudentio^  concerning  religion^  philosophy^  po^ 
litics^  and  the  like  ;  with  the  account  of  the  loss  of 
his  wife  and  children,  and  some  other  accidents  that 
befelbim  during  bis  stay  in  the  country^  which,  as 
we  shall  see,  induced  him  to  leave  the  place  ;  with 
several  curious  remarks  of  Signor  Rbedi  ;  all  which 
would  doubtless  have  given  a  great  deal  of  satisfaC" 
tion  to  the  reader*  But  no  one  can  be  so  much 
concerned  for  the  loss  as  the  publisher,  since  they 
cannot  now  be  repaired,  by  reason  of  the  death  of 
the  same  Signor  Rbedi,  never  to  be  suj^icicntly  re-- 
gretted  by  the  learned  wo rld*^ 

Thefe  dlfcourfes*  made  very  great  imprcnions  on 
the  mind  oi  a  perfon  of  fo  much  penetration  as  the 
regent  was,  infomuch  that  he  leemed  reiblved,  when 
his  regency  was  out,  which  now  wanted  but  a  year, 
to  go  along  with  me  into  Europe,  during  the  flay  he 
was  to  make  at  Grand  Cairo,  that  he  might  have  an 
opportunity  of  examining  mattersat  the  fountain-head; 
wifely  judging  a  confideration  of  fuch  coniequence, 
as  tiiat  of  religion,  to  be  no  indifferent  thing.  For 
my  own  part,  notwithftanding  the  beauty  and  riches 
©f  the  country,  I  could  find  no  fatisfadlion  in  a  place 
where  I  had  loft  all  that  was  dear  to  me,  though  I  had 
the  comfort  to  have  my  dear  Ifyphena,  and  her  three 
children,  all  baptized  by  my  own  hand  before  they 

•  Probably  about  the  Qiiifllan  rthgion,  which  are  lofl '  as 

afore  fald..  * 


260    '  GAUDENtiO    DI    LUCCA. 

died:  neither  could  length  of  time  allay  my  grief; 
but  on  the  contrary,  every  tiling  I  faw  revived  the 
memory  of  my  irreparable  lofs.  I  confidered  the 
inftabilitv  of  the  fleeting  joys  of  this  world,  where  I 
thought  I  had  built  my  happineis,  for  a  man  of  my 
fortune,  on  the  mod  folid  foundation.  But  alas  I 
all  was  gone,  as  if  it  had  been  but  a  dream,  and  the 
adorable  Ifyphena  was  no  more.  The  good  old  Po- 
phar  was  in  a  very  little  better  condition,  having  loft 
his  dearcft  daughter,  and  his  little  grand-children, 
particularly  the  eldaft  boy,  who  is  in  that  pidure  with 
his  mother.  This  refledion  on  the  vanity  of  human 
felicity,  tnade  him  more  difpofed  to  hear  the  truths 
of  our  divine  religion,  fo  that  he  was"  refolved  to  go  and 
fearch  further  into  the  reafons  for  it.  There  was 
another  yet  more  forcible  realbn  induced  me  to  foli- 
cit  the  Pophar  for  my  return  to  my  native  countiiy, 
which  was  the  care  of  my  future  flate.  I  had  lived 
fo  many  years  without  the  exercife  of  thefe  duties 
our  church  obliges  us  to  perform,  and,  though  I  had 
not  been  guilty  of  any  great  crimes,  I  was  not  willing 
to  die  out  of  her  bofom  :  however,  to  do  all  the  good 
I  could  to  a  country  where  I  had  once  enjoyed  fo 
much  happinefs,  this  being,  the  laft  year  we  were  to 
ftay,  I  at  length  perfuaded  the  regent,  that  there  might 
be  fome  danger  of  aninvafion  of  his  country,  from 
the  oppofite  fide  towards  the  fouthern  tropic  ;  at  leaft, 
I  did  not  know  but  there  might  be  fome  habitable 
climate  not  fo  far  over  the  fands,  as  towards  Libya 
and  Egypt.  I  had  often  fignlfied  my  thoughts  to  him 
in  that  refpe^l.  I  told  him,  that  though  his  kingdom 
was  fafe,  and  inacceflible  to  all  but  ourfelves  on  that 
fide,  it  was  poifible  it  might  be  nigher  the  great 
ocean  on  the  oppofite  one,  or  that  the  fands  might 
not  be  of  fuch  extent ;  or  in  fine,  there  might  be 
ridges  of  mountains,  and  from  them  rivers  running  in- 
to the  ocean,  by  which^  in  procefs  of  time,  fome  bar- 
barous people  might  tifcend,  and  dillurb  th<^ir  long  un^ 


CAUDI-NTIO    Dl    LUCCA.  201  ' 

interrupted  reft,  without  any  fence  to  guard  againft 
fuch  an  emergency.  This  laft  thought  alarmed  hmi  ; 
fo  we  were  rei'olved  to  make  a  new  trial,  without 
communicating  the  defign  to  any  but  the  chief  coun- 
cil of  five,  where  we  were  fu re  of  inviolable  fecrecy. 
What  confirmed  me  in  my  notion  was,  that  when  we 
were  on  the  utmoft  point  of  our  mountains  fouthward, 
looking  over  the  defarts,  I  could  perceive  fomething 
like  clouds,  or  fogs,  hanging  always  toward  one  part. 
I  imadned  them  to  be  for s  coverins;  the  tops  of  iome 
great  mountains,  which  muft  have  habitable  vales. 
Being  refoived  to  make  a  trial,  we  provided  all  tilings 
ai^cordingly,  and  fet  out  from  the  furtheft  part  of  the 
kingdom  fouthvvaids,  taking  only  five  perfons  in  our 
company,  fteering  our  ceurle  dire£lly  towards  that 
point  of  the  horizon,  where  I  obferved  the  thick  air 
always  hangip.g  towards  one  place.  We  took  provi- 
fions  and  water  but  for  ten  days,  leaving  word  that 
they  ihould  not  trouble  themfelves  about  us,  unlefs 
we  made  a  confiderable  ftay,  becaule  in  cafe  we  found 
mountains,  we  (hould  always  find  fprings  and  fruits  to 
fubfift  on,  by  making  a  further  fearch  into  the  coun- 
try: otherwiff,  if  we  favv'no  hopes  at  the  five  days 
.fcnd,  we  would  return  the  other  five,  and  take  frefii 
meafures.  The  third  day  of  our  voyage,  we  found 
the  defarts  nothing  fo  barren  as  we  expelled,  the 
ground  grew  pretty  hard,  and  the  fourth  day  we  dif- 
coveredfome  tufts  ofmofsand  ftirubs,  by  v/hich  we 
conjectured  we  (hould  foon  come  to  firm  laud  ;  the  e- 
veniftg  of  that  day  we  difcove-red  the  tops  of  hills,  but 
faiaher  off  than  we  thought,  fo  that  though  we  tra- 
velled at^a  great  rate  all  that  night  and  moftof  thenerU 
day,  v/e  could  only  arrive  at  the  foot  of  them  the 
fifth  day  at  night.  After  fome  little  fearch  we  came 
to  a  fine  fpring,  and,  to  our  comfort,  na  figns  of  inha- 
bitants ;  if  there  had,  we  fhould  have  returned  im- 
mediately to  take  further  advice.  The  next  morning 
we  g^ot  up  to  the  top  of  the  higheft  hill  to  difcover 


26i  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.' 

the  country;  but  found  it  to  be  only  the  point  of  a 
vaft  mountainous  country,  like  tlie  worll  part  of  our 
Alps,  though  there  were  fume  fertile  vales  and  woods, 
but  no  footfteps  of  its  ever  having  been  inhabited,  as 
we  believed,  iince  the  creation.  Finding  we  could 
luakc  good  provifion  for  our  return,  we  were  in  no 
great  pain  about  time ;  but  wandered  from  phice  to 
place,  viewing  and  obf^rving  every  way.  After  pro- 
ceeding along  thofc  craggy  hills  and  precipices  in  this 
manner  for  five  days,  they  began  to  ielTcn  towards 
our  right,  but  feemed  rather  to  increafe  the  other 
way  :  at  length,  in  the  moft  dil'mal  and  horrid  part  of 
the  hill-brow,  one  of  our  young  men  thought  he  fpicd 
fomclhJng  like  the  figure  of  a  man,  fitting  by  a  little 
fprlngundera  craggy  rock  juft  below  us;  we  fei^t 
three  of  our  people  round  another  way  to  keep  him 
from  running  into  the  wood,  while  the  Pophar  and 
myfelfftole  quietly  over  the  rock  where  he  waa.— ^ 
As  foon  as  he  faw  us,  he  whips  up  a  broken  chink  In 
the  rock,  and  diiappeared  immediately  :  we  were 
fure  he  could  notget  from  us,  fo  weclofed  and  fearch- 
ed,  till  we  found  a  little  cave  in  the  windings  of  the 
rock,  where  was  his  retiring  place.  His  bed  was 
made  of  mofs  and  leaves,  with  liLtle  heaps  of  dried 
fruits,  of  different  foi  ts  for  his  fuitcnance.  When  h:; 
faw  us,  he  was  furprized,  and  rufhed  at  us  like  a  li- 
on, thinking  to  make  his  way  tiirough  us,  but  being 
all  five  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  he  flood  ready  to 
defend  himfelf  ^gainft  our  ?.ttcmpts.  Viewing  iijm  a 
little  nigher,  we  faw  he  had  fome  remains  of  Rn  old 
tattered  coat,  and  part  of  a  pair  of  breeches,  with  a 
ragged fafli,  or  girdle:  round  hit  waiil,  by  which,  to 
our  great  furprize,  we  found  he  was  an  European.--^ 
Ti»e  Pophar  fpoke  to  him  in  Lingua  Franca,  and  afk- 
edhim  who,  or  what  he  was  ;  he  fliook  his  head  as  if 
he  did  not  underftand  us.  I  fpoke  to  him  in  French, 
Italian,  and  Latin,  but  he  was  a  ftranger  to  ihofe  lan- 
guages i  iit  h.ngth  he   cried  *  Inglis,  Jnglis.'     1  had 


CAUDENTIO    DI    LUeCA.  20^ 

learned  fomethingof  that  language  when  I  was  a  flu- 
dent  at  Paris ;  for  knowing  my  father  had  a  mind  I 
{Iiould  learn  as  many  languages  as  I  could,  I  had  made 
an  acquaintance  with  feveral  Englifli  and  Scotch  flu- 
dents  in  that  univerfity,  particularly  with  one  F.  John- 
fon,  an  Englifli  Benedidline  ;  and  could  fpeakit  pret- 
ty well  for  a  foreigner,  but  had  almoft  forgot  it  for 
want  of  ufe.  I  bid  him  take  courage  and  fear  no- 
thing, for  we  would  do  him  no  harm.  As  foon  as  e- 
vcr  he  heard  me  fpeak  EngliRi,  he  fell  down  on  his 
knees,  and  begged  us  to  take  pity  on  him,  and  carry 
him  tofome  habitable  country,  where  he  might  pof- 
fibly  get  an  opportunity  of  returning  home  again;  or, 
at  leail,  cf  living  like  a  human  creature.  Upon  this 
he  came  out  to  us,  but  looked  more  like  a  wild  beaft 
than  a  man  ;  his  hair,  beard,  and  nails,  were  grown  to 
a  great  length,  and  his  mein  was  as  haggard,  as  if  he 
had  been  a  great  while  in  that  wild  place  ;  thouo-h  he 
was  a  ftout  well  built  man,  and  fliewed  fomethinga- 
bove  the  common  rank.  We  went  down  to  the  foun- 
tain together,  where  he  made  us  to  underftand,  that 
his  father  was  an  Eaft  India  merchant,  and  his  mo- 
ther a  Dutch  woman  of  Batavia ;  that  he  had  great 
part  of  his  education  in  London,  but  being  very  ex- 
travagant, his  father,  whofe  natural  fonhe  was,  had 
turned  him  off,  and  fent  him  to  Batavia,  to  his  mo- 
ther's friends  ;  that  by  his  courage  and  induftrv,  he 
was  in  a  way  of  making  his  fortune,  being  advanced 
to  be  a  lieutenant  in  tlie  Dutch  guards  at  Batavia  ;  but 
•was  unhappily  caft  away  on  the  coaft  of  Africa,  where 
they  had  been  on  a  particular  adv^jnture  :  that  he 
and  his  companions,  four  in  number,  wandering  up  in 
the  country  to  feek  provifions,  were  taken  by  fome 
ftrange  Barbarians,  who  carried  them  avail  unknown 
way  into  the  continent,  deligning  to  eat  them,  or  fa- 
.critice  them  to  their  inhuman  gods,  as  they  had  done 
by  his  companions.  But  being  hale  and  fat  at  the 
iime  of  his  taking,  they  refef  ved  him  for  fome  parti^ 


104  -GAUDENTIO    DT    LUCCA. 

cularfeafl ;  that,  as  they  were  carryhig  him  through 
tlie  weods,  another  party  of  Barbarians,  enemies  to 
the  former,  met  them,  and  fell  a  fighting  for  their 
booty:  which  he  perceiving,  knowing  he  was  -to  be 
eaten  if  he  ftaid,  flunk  away  in  the  fcuffle  into  the 
thickefl:  woods,  hiding  himfelf  by  day,  and  mar^^hing 
all  niglit  he  did  not  know  where,  but,  as  he  conjectur- 
ed, ftill  higher  into  the  country.  Thus  he  wandered 
from  hill  to  hill,  and  wood  to  wood,  till  he  came  to  a 
dcfart  of  fands,  which  he  was  refolvedto  try  to  pafs 
over,  not  daring  to  return  back,  for  fear  of  falling  into 
the  hands  of  thofe  mercilefs  devourers.  He  pafTed 
two  days  and  two  nights  without  water,  living  on 
the  fruits  he  carried  with  him,  as  many  as  he  could, 
till  he  came  to  this  mountainous  part  of  the  country, 
which  he  found  uninhabited,  taking  up  his  abode  in 
that  rock,  where  he  never  had  any  hopes  ot  feeing  a 
human  creature  again  :  neither  did  he  know  himfelf 
where  he  was,  or  which  way  to  go  back.  In  fine, 
he  told  us  he  had  lived  in  that  miferable  place  now  up- 
wards  of  five  years.  After  we  had  comforted  him, 
as  well  as  we  could,  I  alked  him  which  way  the  main 
fea  lay,  as  near  ns  he  could  gucfs,  and  how  far  he 
thought  it  was  to  it  ?  He  pointed  with  his  hand  to' 
wards  the  fouth,  a  little  turning  towards  the  eaft,  and 
faid,  he  believed  it  might  be  thirty  or  forty  di:ys  jour- 
ney, but  advifed  us  never  to  go .  that  way  ;  for  we 
fliould  certajnly  be  devoured  by  the  .Barbarians.  I 
afkedhim  whetlier  the  cour-try  was  habitable  from 
that  place  down  to  the  fea  ;  he  told  me,  Yes,  except 
that  defart  we  had  palled  ;  but  whether  it  was  broad- 
er in  other  places -he  could  not  tell. 

All  the   time  he  was  fpen;: irg,   the  Pophar  eyed 
him  from  top  to  toe;  and  calling  me  afidc — '  What 

*  monfler,'  fays  he,  *  have  we  got  here  ?  There  is  a 

*  whole  legion  of  wild  beads  in  tJiat  man.     I  fee  the 

*  lion,  the  goat,  the  wolf,  and  the  {ox  in  that  one 

*  perlon.'     1  could  not  fwrbear  fmillng  at  thePophard! 


.% 


6AUDENTI0    DI    LUCCA.  ^O^ 

ikill  in  phyfiognomy,,  and  told  hira,  we  fliould^ake 
xare  he  (hould  do  no  harm.  Then  I  turned  to  the 
man,  andalked  him,  whether  he  would  conform  him- 
ielf  to  .the  laws  and  rites  of  the  country,  if  we  carried 
him  among  men  again,  where  he  fliould  want  for  no- 
ithing.  He  embraced  my  knees.,  and  f«iid,  he  would  con> 
form  to  any  laws  or  any  religion,  if  I  would  but  let 
him  fee  a  habitable  country  again.  I  ftared  at  the  man, 
,and  began  to  think  there  was  fomc  truth  in  -tlie  Po- 
phar's  fcience.  However  I  told  him^  if  he  would  but 
.behave  like  a  rational  creature,  he  fhould  go  along 
with  us  :  but  he  mufl-  fuiTer  himfelf  to  be  blindfolded 
till  he  came  to  the  place.  He  ftarted  a  little,  and 
feemed  to  be  prodigious  fufpicious,  left  we  fiiould  de- 
ceive him.  But  on  my  affuring  him  on  the  faith  of 
.a  man,  that  he  ftiould  come  ,to  i?o  harm,  h  e  confent* 
.ed. 

After  we  had  refrefned  ourfelves,  being  both  glad 
and  concerned  for  the  information  we  had  received 
.of  the  nature  of  the  country,  which  was  the  intent  of 
our  journey,  in  order  to  guard  againil  all  inconve- 
niences, we  covered  his  eyes  very  clofe,  and  carried 
rhim  back  with  us,  fometimes  on  foot  fometimes-  on 
one  of  the  fpare  dromedaries,  till  we  arrived  fafe  from 
wliere  wefetout.  Then  we  let  him  fee  where  he  was^ 
iind  what  a  glorious  country  he  was  come  into.  We 
f:loathed  him  like  ourfelves,  that  is,  in  our  travelling 
^refs,  to  fliew  he  was  not  an  entire  ftranger  to  our 
race.  He  feemed  loft  in  admiration  of  what  he  faw^ 
and  embraced  me  with  all  the  figns  of  gratitude  ima* 
finable.  He  readily  conformed  to  all  our  cuftoms, 
and  made  no  fcruple  ofafTiiling  at  all  their  idolatrous 
ceremonies,  as  if  he  had  been  as  good  a  heathen  aa 
the  beft  of  them.  Which  I  feeing,  v(^ithout declaring 
myfelf  to  be  a  chriftian,  told  him  1  had  been  informed, 
the  people  of  the  country,  where  he  was  educated^ 
were  chriftians » and  wondered  to  fee  him  join  in  ador* 

S 


±o6  .CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

ing  the    lun. — '  Pugh  I'    fays  he,     '  fome    bigotted 

*  people  make  alcruple  ;  but  moil:  of  oiir  men  of  fenfe 

•  think  one  religion  is  as  good  as  another.'  By  this 
I  perceived  cur  lavage  was  of  a  new  let  of  people^ 
which  I  had  heard  of  before  I  left  Italy,  called  Poli- 
tici*,  wlio  are  afort  of  atheirtsin  mafquerade.  The 
Pophar,  out  of  his  great  ikill  in  phyfiognomy,  would 
liave  no  converfation  with  him,  and  commanded  me 
to  have  a  llri«^  eye  over  him.  However,  the  infor- 
mation he  had  given  us  of  the  poffibility  of  invading 
the  kingdom  the  way  he  came,  anfwered  the  intent  oi 
our  voyage,  and  my  former  conjeftures  ;  about  which 
there  was  a  grand  council  held,  and  oniers  given  to 
fecure  the  foot  of  our  outermoft  mountain  Southwards, 
which  ran  a  great  v/av  into  the  defart  ;  fo  that  it  wag 
fuffitient.to  guard  agaiiiftany  of  thofe  barbarous  inva- 
ders of  the  continent.  But  to  return  to  our  European 
lavage,  for  he  may  be  juftly  called  fo,  b^ing  more  dan- 
gerous in  a  commonwealth  than  tlie  very  Hickfoes 
themfelves  ;  though  he  was  a  perfon  v/ho  had  had  a 
iolerable  civilized  education,  bating  the  want  of  all 
i'enfe  of  religion,  which  was  owing  to  his  perpetual 
converiation  with  libertines.  He  had  a  fmattering 
of  moft  kinds  of  polite  learning,  but  without  a  bottom 
jn  any  refpeft.  After  he  had  been  with  us  fome  time, 
his  principles  began  to  flicw  themfelves  in  his  pratlice. 
Firit,  he  began  to  be  rude  with  our  women  ;  married 
crfingle,  it  was  all  alike  to  him,  and  by  an  unaccoun- 
table fpirit  of  novelty  or  contrail! £lion,  our  women 
feemed  to  be  inclined  to  be  very  fond  of  hirfl  ;  fo  that 
we  were  at  our  wits  ends  about  him.  Then  he  be- 
gan to  find  fault  with  our  government,  defpifmg  and 
condemning  all  our  ceremonies  and  regulations  :  but 

•  Tl'.efe  Politlci  >vcre  fore-runnors  of  our  modern  free- 
tliinkers,  whofe  principles  tepd  to  the  dellriK^ion  of  all  hu- 
man fociety,  as  our  author  flicws  incoitiparably  well  by  antj 
by.'       ■    ^ 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA."  20'J 

his  groat  aim  Was,  to  pervert  our  youth,  enticing  thera 
into  all  manner  of  liberties,  and  endeavouring  to  make 
them  believe,  that  there  was  no  fuch  thing  as  moral 
evil  in  nature  ;  that  there  was  no  harm  in  the  greateft 
crimes,  if  they  could  but  evade  the  laws  and  punidi- 
ments  attending  them.  As  I  had  endeavoured  to 
create  a  confidence  in  him,  he  came  to  me  one  day, 
andfaid,  that  fnice  I  wa?  an  European  as  well  as  him- 
lelf,  we  might  make  ourfelves  men  for  ever,  if  I  would 
join  with  him  :  '  You  fee,'  fays  he,  '  thefe  men  can- 

*  not  fight  :  nay,  will  rather  be  killed  tliemfelves,  than 
*'  kill  any  one  elfe  ;  can\  yoii  fliew  me  the  way  out  of 
'  this  country,  where  we  will  get  a  troop  of  ftout  fel- 

*  lows  well  armed,  and  come  and  plund^^r  all  the  coun- 

*  try  ?  We  fliall  get  immenfe  riches,  and  make  our-' 
'  felves  lords  andmafters  of  all.'     I  heard  him  with  a^ 
great  deal   of  attention,  and  anfwered  him,  that^I 
tliought  the   projedl  might  eafily  take,  only. for  th-;j 
Horrid  wickedneis  of  the  fa6l  ;  efpecially  foifustwo 
who  had  received  fuch  favours  from  tKe  Popliar  and  hiss' 
people  :  he,  in  his  being  delivered  from  the  greateii: 
mifery  ;  and  myfelf,  in  having  been  freed  f    m  flave- 
ry,  and  made  one  of  the  chief  men  of  the  kingdom':' 
that  the  a^ion  would  deferve  tobe  branded  with  eter- 
nal infamy,  and  the   blacked  ingratitude  :  befide  the" 
infinite  villainies,  injuftices,  crimes,  and  deaths  of  in- 
nocent   perfons,    who  muft   periOx  in  the  attempt  ; 
which  woukl  always  ftare  us  in  the  face,  and  torment 
us  with  jiever-ceafmg  ftings  of  confcience    till  o^r 
death.   'Confcience  1' fays  he,  '  that's  ajeft;  a  mere 

*  engine  of  prieftcraft :  all  right  is  founded  in  p6wer  ; 
'  let  us  once  get  that,  and  who  will  difpute  <^ur  right  ?' 

*  As  for  the  injuftice  of  it,  that's  a  mere  notion  :  dif- 

*  tin£lion  of  crimes,  mere  bigotry,  and  the  effe<ft  of 

*  education,  ufticred  in  under  the  cloak  of  religion. 

*  Let  us  be  but  fuccefsful^  and  I'll  anfwer  for  all  your 

*  fcruples.'     I  told  him,  it  was  a  matter  not  to  be  re- 
Jolved.  ^.nona  fudden  j  and  that  I  would  coKfid^ryfi 


«OS'.  CAUDENTIO    or    LUCCA'. 

it.  But  Ibid  him  be  fiire  to  keep  his  matters  to 
himrelf.  I  went  immediately  to  the  Pophar,  and 
!;ave  an  account  of  what  had  paHed.  Hewasftruck 
with  horror  at  the  recital  ;not  io  much  for  the  confe- 
<}uences,  as  that  human  nature  could  be  brought  to 
fuchamouftrous deformity.  If,' fays he/your Europeans 

*  are  men  of  fuch  principles,  who  would  not  fly  to  the 

*  furthcft  corner  of  the  earth  to  avoid  their  fociety  ? 

*  Or  rather,  who  can  be  fure  of  his  life  among  fuch 

*  people  ?  Whoever  thinks  it  no  greater  crime  in  it- 

*  felf  to  kill  me,  than  to  kill  a  fly,  will  certainly  do  it, 

*  if  I  {land  in  his  way.  If  it  were  lawful,'  continued 
he,  '  by  our  conflitutions,  to  kill  this  man,  he  de- 
V  ierves  a  thoufand  deaths  who  makes  it  lawful  to  de- 

*  ilroy  ail  the  world  befid«s.'  lanfwered,  that  all  the 
Europeans  were  not  men  of  his  principles,  nor  even 
thofo  of  his  nation,  who  were  generally  the  moft 
compaffionate  and  beft  natured  men  in  the  world, 
jjut  that  he  was  of  a  new  fet  of  wretched  people, 
v.ho  called  themfelves  Deifts,  and  interiorly  laughed 
at  all  religion  and  morality,  looking  upon  them  as  mere' 
engines  of  policy  and  prieftcraft.  '  Interiorly  I* 
lays  he  ;    '  yes,  and  would  cut  any  man's  throat  cx- 

*  teriorly  and  actually,  if  it  were  not  for  fear  of  the 

*  gallows.  Shut  him  up,'  cried  he,  *  from  all  com- 
*.  nlerce  of  men,  leil  his  breath  (hould  infe6l  the  whole 
'  world  ;  or  rather,  let  us  fend  him  back  to  his  cave, 

*  to  live  like  a  wild  heart  ;  where,  if  he  is  devoured 

*  by  th/s  favages,  they  do  him  no  injury,  on  his  own 
«  principles.'  I  reprcfented  to  him,  that  we  were 
juft  .oa  our  journey  back  to  Grand  Cairo,  where  we 
might  carry  him  blind-folded,  that  he  fliould  not  know 
our  way  over  the  fands,  and  there  give  him  his  liber- 
ty ;  but  tlwt  we  would  fliut  him  up  till  then.  This  be- 
ing agreed  on,  I  took  a  fufficient  number  of  men  to 
fcize  him  ;  and  to  do  it  without  any  miichief,  for  he 
was  as  ftout  as  a  lion,  we  contrived  to  come  upon 
him  iu  hi*  bed,  wliere  we  caug;ht  him  with  one  of  our 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  ^^9 

young  women.  Vhrei  of  our  men  fell  upon  him  a 
once,  and  kept  him  down,  while  the  reft  tied  his 
hands  and  legs,  and  carried  nim  into  a  ftrong  hold, 
whence  it  was  impoihble  for  him  to  efcape.  The  wo*» 
man  was  ihut  up:apart,  according  to  our  laws.  When 
he- found  himfcif  taken,  hecalled  me  by  the  moft  cruel 
names  he  could  thinkon,as  the  moft  wicked  and  trea* 
cherous  villain  that  ever  was,  thus- ta betray  him,  and 
the  truft  he  had  put  in  -mek  •  'Yes,'  fays  I, '•it  is  a 

*  'crime'  to  difcover  your  fecr^ts,  andna  crime  in  you 

*  to  fubvert  the  government,  and  fet  all  mankind  a 
'  cutting-one"  anether^s  throats,  by  your  monftrous 

*  principles:' fo  I  left  him- for  the  prefent.  Some 
time  after,. I  wTent  to  him^  and  told  him,  our  council 
had  decreed  hefliouldbe  carried  back  from  whence 
he  came,-and  bedelive-red  over  ta  the  favages,  either 
to- be  devoured  by  them,  or  ta  defend^  himfelfbyhis 
principles,  -as-  well  as  he  could.  '  He  cried  out,  fure 
we  would  not  begurlty  of  fuch  horrid-   barbarity  t 

*  Barbarity  r  laid  I,  'that's  a  mere  jeft:  theycWilldo 
'  you  no  injury  ;  if  yourflefli  is  a  rarity  to  them,  when 

*  they  have  you-in  their  power,  they  have  full  right  to 
'  make  ufe  of  it.'  •  He  begged  by  all  that  was  dear, 
we  would  not  fend  him  to  the  favages  j  but  rather  kili 
him  on-  the-  fpot. '  - '  Why,'  fays  I,  '  you  are  worfe 
'  than  the  greateft  cannibals-;  becaufe  they  fpare  their 

'  friends,  and  only  eat  their  enemies  ;  whereas  your  ' 

*  principles  fpare  no  body^  and  acknowledge  no  tie  in 
'  in-nature.'  •  At  length  -he  owned  himfelf  in  a  mif* 
take,  and  feemed  to  renounce  his  errors  jwhen  I  told 
him,  if  he  would  engage  his  moft  folemn  promifj  to 
fufFer-  himfelf  to  be  blind-folded,  and  behave  peacea- 
bly, we  would  carry  him  to  a  place  where  he  might* 
find  an  opportunity  to  return  to  his  own  country.—. 
'  But, '  lays  I, '  what   ligniiies  promifes  and  engage* 

*  ments  in  a  man  who  laughs  at  all  obligations,  and 
J  tiyjpks  it  gs  juft  and  lawful  tobrejik  ^hem,  as  cq  mak© 

S  :4  - 


2T0  CAUDENTIO    DT    LUCCA. 

ihcm  r*  No  ;  he  cnrfcd  himfeit  witli  the  moft  dread- 
ful imprecations,  if  he  were  not  tradable  in  all  things 
we   Ihould   command    him.     *  But,'   lays    he   again, 

*  won't  yoa  deliver  me  bock  to  the  lavages?'  I  an- 
fwcred  in  the  lame  tone — *  Should  uc    do  you  any 

*  wrong  if  we  did  1*  At  kngtlj,  to  ap|)caic  him,  I  pro- 
vided him  faithfully  we  would  put  him  in  a  way  to  re- 
turn into  his  own  country:  but  bid  him  conlidor,  it' 
there  were  no  luth  things  as  right  and  wrong,  what 
%ould  become  of  the  world,  or  what  fccurity  coold 
there  be  in  human  life  ? 

In  a  few  weeks,  the  time  drew  on  fcrr  onr  great 
journey  to  Cirand  Cairo,  where  I  was  in  h<»pe&  of  tee- 
ing my  native  country  once  more.  All  thii>gs  were 
now  so.  good  a«  ready  ;  the  Pophar  and  myfelV  had 
other  deigns  than  uiual,  and  were  in  I'omt?  paia  to 
tlijnkof  leaving  that  once  i'o  hoppy  country.  Though, 
a&I  iaid,  all  things  tliat  could  make  me  happy,  werti 
buried  with  my  dear  li'yphena.  The  Pophar  had  fomc 
ierioiM  thought*  about  luruing  Chriilian:  tlK»  eriden- 
CCK  of  our  reiigiw^  were  i'ooii  perceived  by  a  perfort 
«f  hU  doep  peric^nition ;  though  {>erfuns  of  I'rttlci 
Jeamj^ng,  and  great  vices,  precend  they  do  not  lee 
tkem.  But,  like  a  wile  man,  he  was  rcfolved  to  ex- 
•naint  inta  it,  in  the  place  where  it  was  eicercKi'cd  m 
tlitt  groatc'lt  IplendoF.  We  provided  a  good  (juantu 
ly  of  jewels,  and  as  much  gold  as  we  could  well  carry, 
for  oiir  prclent  cxpences  at  Grand  Cairo,  and  elic* 
\rh«i-«,  m  future  exigencies,  I  went  to  my  LK.*iIl  iii 
hh  grotto,  and  threw  hrm  as  much  gold  and  jewelsi 
»s  were  iujlicient  to  glut  his  avarice,  and  make  him- 
happy  in  hia  brutal  way  of  thinking,  l^t  I  wo«l<if 
not  iviid  myfdf  with  him  alone,  for  all  his  promiies, 
as  he  on  his  fide  cxpreflcd  llill  a  diffidence  of  trufting' 
any  body  J  I  fuppoie,  from  the  confcioufnefa  of  his 
•wn  vile  principles.  Then  I  threw  hrm  a  blinding- 
tap,  wliich  we  had  nrade  for  him,  that  he  (hotild  not. 
fee  our  >vQ^  over  iivi  deibiTB.    Tins  cap  >v^9  madp 


GAlTDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  211 

Tike  a  head-piece,  with  breathing-places  for  his  mouth 
and  noie,  as  well  as  to  take  in  nouriihment,  openingj 
at  the  back  part,  and  clalping  with  a  Ipring  behind, 
that  being  once  locked,  he  could  not  open  it  himlelf. 
He  put  it  on  his  head  two  or  three  times,  before  ha. 
durit  venture  to  dole  it.  At  length  he  clafped  it, 
and  he  was  as  blind  as  a  beetle.  We  went  to  hiuT 
and  tied  his  liands,  wliich  he  let  us  do  quietly 
enough ;  but  iUU  begged  us  that  we  would  not  be- 
tray him  to  the  favages.  I  bid  him  thiiik  once  more, 
that  now  hii  own  interior  ienfe  told  him  that  to  be- 
tray him  would  be  a  crime,- by  confequenoe  theref 
v/as  fuch  a  thing  as  evil.^ 

All  things  being  in  readinefs,  we  mounted  out*  dro- 
medaries. The  Pophar  and  all  the  rell  kiffed  the 
ground  as  ufual :  I  did  th  *  fame  ;  out  of  rgfpe£l  to  the- 
place  which  contained  the  remains  of  ray  never  too- 
much  lamented  Ifypliena,  the  afl>es  of  whole  heart 
are  in  the  hollow  of  the  ilone,  whereon  is  her  pic- 
ture. Not  to  mention  the  ceremonitis  of  our  taking 
leave,  we  were  conducted  in  a  mournful  manner  ovei* 
the  bridge,  and  launched  once  more  into  the  oeean  of- 
funds  and  defarts  which  were  before  us.-  Our  lavage' 
was  on  a  dromedary  which  would  follow  the  relt,  but- 
led  by  a  cord  faftened  to  one  of  them  for  fecurity.- 
Itftumbled  with  him  twice  or  thrice,  and  threw  him 
ofFonce.,  but  without  any  great  hurt.  But  the  fear 
of  breaking  his  neck  put  him  in  great  agony,  and 
though  he  was  as  bold  as  a  lion  on  other  occafions, 
he  was  prodigioully  ilnrtled  at  the  tl>oughts  of  death* 
We  arrived  at  Grand  Cairo  at  the  ulual  [>€riod  of  time 
without  any  particular  difafter.  As  loon  as  we  were 
f<ttled,  the  Pophar  ordered  meto  fend  the  Deift  pack- 
ing as  foon  as  we  could.  '  This  brutal  race,'  fays  he, 
'  next  to  the  Cannibals,  arc  the  fitteft  company  for 
«  him.'  I  unlocked  the  blinding-helmet,  and  told  hini 
"vve  had  now  fulfilled  our  promife  ;  t'at  he  was  at 
Oraod  Cairo,  wh«re  he  might  findforae  way  or  other 


412  CAUDINTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

to  return  into  Europe  ;  and,  to  convince  him,  carried 
him  to  feme  Eur(»pean    merchants,  who  alfurcd  liim 
of  the  fame.     Delivering  to  hira  his  gold  and  jewels, 
begged  him  to  reflet  his  obligations  to  us,   ainl  the 
grateful  acknowledgments  due  to  our  memory  on  that 
ac-count:  we  had  taken  him  froma  miferablc  folitude^ 
where  he  lived  more  like  a  wild  bcail    than    a   man  ; 
and  where  he  was  in  danger  of  being  foubd   and  de<* 
voured  by  the  cannibals  ;  we  had  brought  him  into  on© 
of  the  happiell  countiies  in  the  world,    if  he    wouiti 
but  have  conformed  to  its  laws  ;  and  now  had  given:  < 
him  his  liberty  to  go  where  he   plcafed,  witli    riches  • 
foflicicnt  to  make  liim^-afy,  ar.d  benefits  to  make  hiiiv 
gratefulall  his  lile.      1  then  took  my  leave  of  him. — 
But  to  our  lorrow  we  had    not  done  with  him  yet.-- 
As  foon  as  the  Pophar  and   the    rcll  had  performed  . 
the  ceremony  of  viiiiiiigthe  tombs  of  their  ai\cellors, 
or  rather  the  places  where  the  tombs  had  been,   the.  . 
<<  good  old  man  and  my  iclf  began  to  think  of    meafurcs   • 
lor  our  journey  into  Italy.  .  He  ordered    his    people  .: 
to  Hay  at  Grand  Cairo  till  the   next  annual   caravan;   ; 
and  in  cafe  he  did  not  return  by  that  time,  they  were   : 
to  go  home,  uiwi  he  would  take  the  opportunity  of  the-  • 
then  next  caravan,  becaufe  he  was  upon  bulinels  that  ' 
nearly  concerned  him.  .  We  had  agreed  with  a  mader 
of  a  Ihip  to  carry  us  to  Venice,  which,  as  1  had  the 
honour  to  acfjuaint  yuur    Reverences  before,  was  a  ^ 
French  fliip,  commanded  by  Moniieur  Godart.     We 
had  fixed  the  day  to  goon  board,  when,  behold  !    our 
favage,  at  the  head  of  a  band  of-  Turks,  came  and 
fuzed  every  one  of  us,  in  the  name  of  the  great  Hai- 
fa.- By  great  good  fortune,  while  I  Itaid  at    Grand 
Cairo,  1  had  the  grateful  curiolity  to  inform    myfeli 
\vhat  was  become  of  the  former    QuOii's  daugliter  we  ; 
Jtft  there  five  and  twenty   years   ago.     The  people- 
tv^ld  me,  the  daughter  was  married  to  the  Grand  SuU- 
tan,  and  was  now  Sultanei>,  mother    to  the  prcfent 
fuUuD, uud  regent  <?f  the  empire;  ^ddin^,  tlut   i)wi 


GAUDENTIO    Dl    LUCCA.  fLif 

brother  was  the  prefent  great  Balla.      This  hicky  m- 
formaiion  faved  all  our  lives  and  liberties.     We  were 
carried  prifoners  before  the  great  Baila,  the  faithlefa- 
favage  accufingus-  of  crimes  againft  the  ftate  ;    that 
we  were  immeniely  rich,  (a  crime  of    itfelf  fufficient- 
to   condemn  us)    and  could   make  a  difcovery  of  a 
country  of  vaft  advantage   to  the  Grand  Signior. — ' 
To  be  Ihort^  we  had  all  been  put  to   the  torture,  had- 
not  I  btgged  leave  to  fpeak  a  word  or  two  in  private 
to  the  great  BaOa.     There  I  told  him  who   I    was^- 
that  I  was  the  perfon  who  had  faved  his  fifter's  (tlie 
now  emprefs)  life  ;  and,  to  convince  him,  told  him  all" 
the  circumllances  except  that  of  her  love,  though  he 
had  heiTrd  fomething  of  that  too  :  I  fliewed  him  the- 
ring  (he  had  given  me  for  a  remembrance,  (which  he- 
alio  remembered)  adding,    that   we   were   innocent' 
men,  who  lived  honeftly,  according  to  our  own  laws, 
coming  there  to  traffic,  like  other  merchants,  and  had^ 
been  traduced  by  one  of   the   grcateil  villains  upon- 
earth.     In  a  word,  this  not  only  got  us  off,  and  procur-* 
ed  us  an  ample  pafTport  from  the  great  Baflk  for    our' 
further  voyage  ;  but  he  alfo  ordered  the   informing 
wretch  to  be  feized,  and  fcnt  to  the  galleys   for  life,- 
He  offered  to  turn  Turk,  if  they  would  fparc  him.— ' 
But   being  apprized  of  his  principles,  they  laid  he 
would  be  a  dilgrace  to  their  religion;  and   ordered' 
him  away  immediately.-    Upon  which,  feeing   there" 
was  no  mercy,  being  grown  mad  with  rage  and  defpair,' 
before  they  could  leize  his  hands,  he  drew  out  a  pil- 
tol,  and  fliot  himfelf   through  the    head  ;>  not  being 
able  to  find  a  worfe  hand  than  his  own.-    The  Pophar,- 
good  man  1  bore  thefe    misfortunes    with  wonderful 
patience,  though  he  afliired  me,  bis  greatell  grief  was,* 
to  fee  human  nature  fo  far  corrupted^  as  it  was  in  tliat 
impious  wretch,   who   could  think   the    raoft   horrid^ 
crimes  were  not  worth  the  notice  of  the  fupremfe   Go-" 
vemor  of  the  univerfe.     '  But  we  fee,'  fays  he,  *  that 
*  Providence  can  make  the  wicked   themfelves  th^ 


^14  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.' 

*  inn-rumentof  Its  juft  vengeance  :  for  can  any  tliinj; 
'  be  lb  great  a  blot  upon  human  nature,  as  to    be  its 

*  own  deftroyer,  when  tlic  very  brutes  will  flruggle 
'  for  life  till  the  laft  gafp  V  However,  he  was  uneaiy 
till  he  had  left  that  hateful  place.  Bcfides,  there 
were  fome  figns  of  the  plague  breaking  out;  fo  we 
went  down  to  Alexandria  as  faft  as  we  could  :  and  to 
encourage  Monfieur  Godart,  he  made  him  a  prcfcnt 
beforehand  of  a  diamond  of  a  conliderable  value. — 
We  fet- fail  for  Gandy,  where  Monfieur   Godart  was 

to  touch,  the  1 6th  day  of  Aiiguft,  Anno  17 12.    But,      . 
alas!   whether  thefe  troubles,  or  not  being  ufed  to     j 
the  fea,  or  fome  infe6lion  of  the  plague  he  had  caught     \ 
at  Grand  Cairo,  or  all  together,   is    uncertain  ;   but 
that  great  good  man  fell  fo  dangcroully  ill,  that    we 
thought  we  Ihould  fcarce  get  him  to  Candy.     He  af- 
fured  me  by  the  knowledge  he  had  of  himfeU  and  na- 
ture, that  his  time  was  come.     We  put  in  at  the  firft 
creek,  where  the  lai.d  ?tir  a  little  refrcihcd  him  ;  but 
it  was  a  fallacious  crifis,  for  in  a  few   days  all  of  us  • 
perceived  his  end  draw  near.     Then  he   tohl  me    he 
was  refolved  to  be  baptiijed,  and  die  in  the  Cliriftlan 
faith.     I  g-othim  inllru6led  by  a  reverend  prieil  be-- 
longing  to  Monfieur  Godart ;  his  name  was  Monfieur' 
Le  Grelle,  whom  Ihad  formerly  known  when  he  was' 
a  fludent  in  the  college  lor  foreign  millions  ;  and,  what- 
was  the  only  comfort  I  had  now  left,  1  law  him  bap-- 
tized,  and  yield  up  the  gholt  with  a  courage    becom-- 
ing  the  greateft  hero,  and  the  belt  of  men.     This  was- 
the  greateft  afiii<riion  1  ever  had  in  my  whole  life,  af-- 
ter  the  death  of  his  daughter.     He  left  me  all  his  ef-- 
fe<fts,  which  were  fufticient  to  make  me  happy  in  thif 
life,  if  riches  could  procure  happine^is. 

We  liad  fome  days  to  itay,  before  Monfieur  God-- 
art  could  make  an  end  of  his  bulinefs.      1  was  walking, 
in  a  melancholy  pofture  along  the  fea-ihore,  and  re- 
fleding  on  the  adventures  of  my  pad  life,  occafioned- 
by  thofe  very  wat«r^  whereon  I  wrj  looking,  whe;i  I^ 


-GAUDE'NTIO    DI    LUCCA.  11^ 

rcame,  or  rather  my  feet  carried  me,  to  a  hanging  rock, 
,on  thefide  of  theiflandjiill  on  the  edge  of  the  fea.» 
and  where  there  was  fcarce  room  enough  for  two  or 
•three  perfons  to  ftand  privately  under  covert^  very 
.difficult  to  be  difcerned;  where  going  to  fit  down  and 
■indulge  my  melancholy  thoughts,  I  efpied  a  turk  and 
,t'vvo  women,  as  if  concealed  under  the  rock;  my  own 
troubles  not  allowing  me  the  curiofity  to  pry  into  o- 
ther  people's  concerns,  made  me  turn  fliort  back  again; 
but  the  elder  of  the  two  women,  who  was  miftrefs  of 
the  other,  ieeing  by  ray  drefs,  that  I  was  a  ftranger 
■and  a  Chriftian,.(beingnow  in  that  habit)  came  run- 
ning to  me,  and  falling  on  her  knees,  laid  hold  of  mine, 
and  begged  me  take  pity  on  a  diftrefied  woman  who  ex-- 
pe£led  every  moment  to  be  butchered  by  one  of  the 
mod  inhuman  -villains  living,  h'om  whofe  violence  they 
•had  fled  and  hid  themfelves  in  that  place,  in  expeifla- 
tion  of  finding  a  boat  to  convey  them  off.  I  lifted  her 
up,  and  thought  I  faw  fomething  in  her  face  I  had 
leen  before,  though  much  altered  by  years  and  trou- 
bles. She  did  the  fame  by  me,  and  at  lengtli  cried 
out — '  O  heavens  1  it  can't  be  the  man,  I  hope!'  I  re- 
jiiembered  confufedly  fomething  of  the  voice,  as  well 
as  the  face  ;  and  after  a  deal  of  aftoniniment,  found 
it  was  the  Curdifli  lady,  who  had  faved  my  life  from  the 
pirate  Hamets.  '  Ohl'  fays  flie, '  I  have  jufl:  time  e^ 
.'  nough  to  tell  ye,  that  we  expe£l  to  be  purfued  by 
'  that  inhuman  wretch,  unlcfs  you  can  find  a  boat  to 
*  carry  us  off  before  he  finds  us,  otherwife  we  mud 
'  fall  a  facrifice  to  his  cruelty, '  I  never  ftaid  to  con- 
Jider  confequences,  but  anfwered  precipitately,  that 
I  would  do  my  beft ;  fo  ran  back  to  the  (hip  as  fad  as 
I  could,  and  with  the  help  of  the  firft  man,  brought 
the  boat  to  the  rock.  I  was  juft  getting  out  to  take 
hold  of  her  hand,  when  we  lieard  fome  men  cominp; 
jrulhmg  in  behind  us,  and  one  of  them  cried — '  Hold, 
'f  villain  j  that  wicked  woman  flian't  eicape  fo  :*  and 
fires  a  piftol,  which  miiiing  the  lady,  {hot  the  m^ij  at- 


^l6  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

•tending  her,  into  the  belly,  lb  that  he  fell  down  pre- 
fently,  though  not  quite  dead.  I  Ii;ad  provided  ray- 
felf  witli  a  Turkifli  icymitarand  a  cafe  of  plftols,  ui> 
,der  my  fafti,  for  my  defence  on  fliip-board;  I  faw 
•there  was  no  time  to  deliberate,  fo  I  fired  direflly  at 
•them,  for  they  were  three,  and  had  the  good  luck  to 
drop  one  of  them.  But  Hamets,  as  I  found  afterwards, 
minding  nothing  but  his  revenge  on  the  woman,  fired 
again,  and  mifli^o  the  lady  a  iccond  time,  fliot  her 
maid  througli  tl.e  arm,  and  was  drawing  his  fcymitar 
te  cleave  lier  down,  when  1  Ilept  in  before  the  lady, 
but  (hooting  with  too  much  precipitancy,  the  bullets 
pafied  under  his  arm,  and  lodged  in  the  body  of  his 
lecond ;  he  darted  back  at  the  fire  fo  near  him,  which 
gave  me  time  to  draw  my  fcymitar.  Being  now  up- 
x>n  equal  terms,  he  retired  two  or  three  paces,  and 
cried — '  Who  art  thou    that  ventured  thy  life  fo 

*  boldly  for  this  wicked  woman?*  I  knew  his  voice 
perfe<rtly  well,  neither  was  he  fo  much  altered  as  the 
Jady.  ^  I  am  the  man,'  faid  I, '  whofe  life  thou  wouldft 

*  have  taken, but  this  lady  laved  it,  whofe  caufe  I 
'  fliall  now  revenge  as  well  as  my  own,  and  my  dear 
A  brother's.'  We  made  no  more  words,  but  fell  to  it 
with  our  fcymitars,  with  all  our  might ;  he  was  a 
brave  (lout  man,  and  let  me  fee  I  fliould  have  work 
enough  to  hew  him  down.  After  feveral  attacks,  hQ 
gave  me  a  con  fide  rable  wound  on  my  arm,  and  I  cut 
him  a-crofs  the  cheek  a  ])rctty  large  galh,  but  not  to 
endanger  his  life  ;  at  length  the  judice  of  my  caufa 
.would  have  it,  that  ftriking  off  his  turban  at  on^ 
Arokc,  and  with  another  falling  on  his  bare  head,  I 
cut  him  quite  into  the  brains,  that  fome  of  tiieni 
fpurted.  on  my  fcymitar.  He  fell  down,  as  I  thought, 
quite  dead,  but  after  fome  time  be  gavt  a  groan,  and 
littered  thefe  words — *  Mahome.t,  thou  art  jud;  I 
Jcilled  this  woman's  huiband,  and  die  has  been  the  oc<» 

*  cafion  ofmydeath.V  With  thcfe  word$h^  gave  up 
f  tke  ghod.     By  thistimQ,  the  lady's  attenciant  waa 


O'AUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  21^ 

^ead  ;  fo  I  took  the  lady  and  her  woman,  without  flay- 
ing for  fear  of  farther  difficulties,  and  putting  them 

:into  the  boat,  conducted  them  to  the  fhip.  Monfieur 
Godart  was  extremely  troubled  at  the  accident,  fay- 
ing we  fhould  hare  all  the  illand  upon  us,  and  mad© 
great  diificulty  to  receive  the  lady  ;  but  upon  a  juft 
reprefentation  of  the  cafe,  and  an  abundant  recom- 
pence  for  his  effefts  left  behind,  we  got  him  to  take 

;her  in,  and  hoifl  fail  for  Venice  as  faft  as  we  could 

The  lady  had  now  time  to  thank  me  for  her  delivery, 
and  I  to  congratulate  my  happy  fortune  in  behig  able 
to  make  a  return  for  her  faving  my  life.  During  our 
palTage,  I  begged  her  to  give  us  the  hiflory  of  her  for- 
:  tunes  fince  I  left  her,  which  I  prognoiticated  then 
^  could  not  be  very  happy,  confidering  the  hands  file 
had  fallen  into.     Says  fhe — *  You  remember  I  made 

*  a  promife  to  Hamets,  that  I  would  marry  him  on 

*  condition  he  would  fave  your  life.' — ^  Yes,  Madam,* 
,faid  I ;  ^  and  am  ready  to  venture  mine  once  more  in 

*  return  for  fo  great  a   benefit.' — ^  You  have    done 

*  enough,'  fays  fhe  ;  and  with  that  acquainted  us,  that 
when  I  was  fold  off  to  the  flrange  merchant,  Hamets 
carried  her  to  Algiers,  and  claimed  her  promife.  *  I 
'  was  entirely  ignorant,'  lays  ihe,  '  of  his  having  a 
'  hand  in  the  death  of  my  dear  lord ;  but,  on  the  con* 
*•  trary,  the  villain  had  contrived  his  wickednefs  fo 
'  cunningly,  that  I  thought  he  had  generoufly  ven- 
'  tured  his  own  life  to   fave  his  ;   and  being,  as  you 

*  know,  a  very  handfome  man,  of  no  very  inferior 
'  rank,  and  expref!ing  the  moll  ardent  love  For  my  per- 

*  fon,  andl  having  no  hopes  of  returning  into  my 
'  o'wn  country,  fulfilled  my  promife  made  on  your  ac- 

*  count,  and  married  him.' 
'  We  lived  contentedly  enough  together  for  fomiS 

years,  bating  that  we  had  no  childri^n,  till  his  con- 
ftant  companion,  who  was  the  man  attending  me  at 
the   rock,  ai.d  was  killed  by  that  villain,  fell  out 

T 


.i 


aiS  CAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

about  a  fair  flave  which  Omar  (Co  he  was  calleil) 
had  bought,  or  taken  priibner  in  feme  of  their 
piracies.  Harriets,  as  well  as  lie,  fell  in  love  with 
her,  and  would  have  taken  her  for  his  concubine,  but 
the  other  concealed  her  from  liiin.  They  had  like 
to  have  fought  about  it.  Hamets  vowed  revenge: 
the  other,  who  was  the  honefler  man  of  the  two, 
was  adviied  to  be  upon  hisguard,  and  to  deliver  the 
woman  to  him  ;  which  he  never  would  con  lent  to, 
but  was  refolved  to  run  all  rifques,  rather  than  the 
young  lady  fhould  fuffer  any  diihonour.  In  the 
mean  time,  her  friends,  who  were  rich  people  qf 
Circafila,  hearing  where  flie  was,  made  iiUerell  to 
to  have  her  raniomed,  and  taken  from  both  of  them, 
by  the  authority  of  the  Dey  of  Algiers,  who  was 
otherwile  no  friend  to  Hamets.  This  lail  had  been 
informed,  that  Omar,  becaufe  he  could  not  enjoy 
her  himfelf,  contrived  to  have  her  ranfomed  from 
his  rival,  and  I  myfelf  had  a  hand  in  the  affair,  for 
which  he  threatened  revenge  on  both  of  us  ;  and  be- 
ing alfo  difgufted  with  the  Dey,  he  gave  orders  to 
have  his  fliips  ready  to  remove  and  follow  his  trade 
of  piracy.  Then  Omar  informed  me  how  Hamets 
had  murdered  mv  fn'ft  hufband,  by  hiring  the  Ara- 
bians to  do  it,  while  he  pretended  to  defend  him,  to 
avoid  my  fufpicions,  with  fuch  circumllances  of  thic 
faci,  that  1  faw  the  truth  was  too  clear.  T'he  Imr- 
ror  and  deteftation  I  was  in  is  not  to  be  expreffed, 
both  agajnll  Hamets,  and  againft  myfelf,  for  marry- 
ingYuch  a  monller.  Omar  added,  that  he  was  cer- 
tainly, informed,  that  as  foon  as  he  had  us  out  at 
fca,  he  would  make  away  with  us  both  ;  and  told 
me,  if  I  would  truft  myfelf  with  him,  he  would  un- 
dertake to  carry  me  off  in  a  boat,  and  ccnduvH:  rqe 
into  my  own  country.  I  was  refolved  to  fly  to  the 
farthclt  endof  the  earth,  to  avoid  his  loathed  fight  j 
forelolvedto  pack  up  our  moft  precious  things,  and 
go  along  with  him.     He  procured  a  boat  to  mee| 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  21^ 

'  US,  at  a  little  creek  of  the  ifland,  by  a  perfon  he 
'  thought  he  could  confide  in;  but  who  betrayed  the 
'  whole  affiur  to  Hamets  :  oFwhich  alfo  we  had  tline- 

*  ly  notice,  and  removing  from  the  flation  where  we 
'expelled  the  boat,  iled  along  the  coaft  as  privately  . 
'  as  we  could, and  hid  ourielves  under  tiie  rock  where 

^  you  found  us,  expe<^ling  either  to  fmd  fome  favour  a- " 

*  ble  occafion  to  be  carried  off,  or  to  die  by  the  hand 

*  of  Hamets,  which  we   certainly  had  done,  had  not 
'  he  met  with  liis  jufl;  death  b^'  yours.'  The  lady  had 
fcarce  given  us  this  (liort  account  of  her  raisfortunes, 
and  we  were  not    only  congratulating  her  for  her 
deliverance,  but  admiring  the  ju/tice  of  Providence, 
which  I'eathed  this  villain,   both  to  bring  him  to  con- 
dign punilhment  for  tht^  murdc-r  of  the  innocent  Curd^ 
and  make  hiin  'die  by  my  hand,  fiVe  and  twenty  years 
after  he  had  robbed  arid  kilted  my  brother  with  all 
his  crew,  fold  me  for  a  (lave,  and  attempted  to  kill  me- 
alfo,  had  hot  the  ftrange  lady  Caved  my  hfe  :  I  fay,  we 
were  making;:  fuch  like  r6fle£ti'ons  on  this  ftrange  acci- 
dent,  when  they  told  us  froni  above,  two  vcffels  feena- 
ed  to  come  full  fail  upon  us,  as  if  they  were  purfuing 
us  with"  all   theit  might.  '   We  made  all  the  fail  we 
could,  but  our  fllip  being  pretty  heavily  loaded,  we 
faw  we  mud  be  overtaken.     Some  of  us  were  reiolv- 
ed  to  fight  ifout  to  the  lafl,  in  cafe  they  were  enemies. 
But  Monfieur  Godart  would  not  content  to  it,  faying 
the  BaflVs   paflport   would  fecure  us,  or  by  yielding 
peaceably  we  might  be  ranfomcd.     They  came  up  to 
us  in  a  fliort   time,   and   faluted  us  with  a  volley  of 
fliot,  to  flieW   what  we  were  to  trull  to.  We  llruck 
our  fails,  and  let  them  board  us  without  any  refiilance, 
Monfieur  Gb'dart,  with  too  mean  a  fpirit,  as  I  thought, 
told  them  with  cap  in  hand,  that  he  would  give  them 
any  fatisfadion,  andaflured  them  he  would  njt  willing- 
ly fall    out  with    the    fubjec^s  of  the  Grand  Signior. 
They  I'eixed  every  man  of  us,  and  fpying  the  lady  arid 
sae— ''There  they  are,'  faid  they  ;    '  the   aduitercf* 


220  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

*  and  lier  lover  with  the  fpoils  of  her  murdered  huf- 

*  band/  Which  words  fhewing  tli^y  were  Turks  in 
purfuit  of  us  from  Candy,  quite  confounded  Monfieur 
Godart  at  once,  and  made  me  imagine  1  Hiould  have 
much  fido  to  find  any  quarter.  Tliey  hauled  us  upon 
deck,  making  Oiew,  as  if  they  were  going  to  cut  off 
my  head.  I  never  thought  myfelf  fo  nigh  death  be- 
fore ;  but  had  the  prefence  of  mind  to  cry  out  in  the 
hearing  of  the  whole  crew,  that  we  were  fervants  of 
the  Grand  Sultanefs  ;  and  produced  the  palTport  of 
the  great  Bafia  her  brother,  charging  them  on  tlieir 
peril  not  to  touch  us.  Tliis  (lopt  their  fury  a  little  ; 
'  feme  criedout — '•  Hold,  have  a  care  what  you  do  ;"*  o- 
thcrs  cried — '  Kill  them  all,  for  robbers  and  murder- 
'  ers  ;  the  Sultanefs  will  never  prote£l  fuch  villains  as 

*  theie.'  When  the  hurlyburly  was  fomething  ap- 
pealed, Monlicur  Godartreafonedthe  cafe  with  them, 
and  told  them,  if  they  murdered  us,  they  could  never 
conceal  it,  iince  all  the  crew  of  the  three  lliips  heard 
eur  appeal  ^  the  Sultanefs  mother,  the  palTport 
fetting  forth,  among  other  things,  that  I  had  Caved 
the  life  of  the  Grand  Sultanefs,  This  brought  them 
to  a  demur.  The  chief  of  them  began  to  confult 
among  thetimfelves  what  was  bell  to  be  done  ;  when 
I,  begging  leave  to  fpeak,  told  them,  If  they  would 
carry  us  to  Conflantinople,  we  would  willingly  fub- 
mit  our  lives,  and  all  that  belonged  to  us,  in  cafe  the 
Sultanefs  did  not  own  the  fa£l,  and  take  us  into  her 
prote^lion  :  that,  in  cale  they  put  us  to  death,  fome* 
one  or  otlier  in  fuch  a  number,  would  certainly  inforna 
againll  them,  the  confequences  of  which  they  knew 
very  well.  I  touched  alfo,  but  tenderly,  on  the  death 
of  Hamets,  and  our  innocence.  The  firil  part  of  my 
fpeech  made  them  pafs  over  the  other.  They  de- 
murred again,  and  at  length  refolved  to  carry  us  to 
Conftantinople,  and  proceed  againll  us  by  way  of  juf- 
tice,  not  doubting  to  make  good  prize  of  us,  oil  ac- 
count of  our  being  Chrillians.    Thus  was  our  jour- 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  '2St 

Tiey  to  Venice  interrupted  for  fome  time  by  this  acci* 
dent.  When  we  came  to  the  port,  Monfieur  Godar^ 
got  leave  tofenl  our  cafe  to  Monfieur  Savigni,  the 
French  refident ;  who  found  means  to  reprefent  to  the 
Sultanefs  mother,  that  there  was  aftranger  in  chains j 
who  pretended  to  be  the  perfon  who  had  laved  her 
life  when  flie  was  at  Grand  Cairo,  and  would  give 
her-p'roofs  of  it,  if  he  could  be  admitted  to  her  high* 
iiefs's  prefence.  I  would  riot  fend  the  ring  (lie  gaVe 
me,  for  fear  of  accidents.  The  Sultanefs  gave  orders 
immediately,  J  fliould  be  brought  to  her  preience,  lay- 
in*,  (lie  could  eafily  know  the  perfon,  for  all  it  was  fo 
long  before:.  I  put  bn  the  lame  kind  of  drefs  I  was  in 
when  (lie  "firft  faw  me,'  which,  if  your  Reverences  re- 
member, was  the  travelling  drefs  of  the  Mezoranians. 
When  I  was  brought  into  her  prefence,  I  fcarce  knew 
hei",  being  advanced  to  a  middle  age,  and  in  the  attire 
of  the  Grand  Sultanefs  :  llie  looked  at  me  with  a  great 
deal  of  emotioTi,"  and  bid  me  iapproach  nigher.  L  im- 
mediately fell  on  my  knees,  and  holdiijg  the  ring  rn 
my  hand  which-  (lie  gave  me  at  parting,  as  if  I  were 
making  a  prefent  of    it — '  Madam,'  laid  I,  behold  a 

*  flave,  who  had  the  honour  to  fave  your  highnefs's 
'  life,  and  noW  begs  l^sown,  and  that  of  his  corapani- 
'  ons  ;■  and  mcO-  humbly  requefts  your  highnefs  to  ac- 

*  cept  of  this  jewel,  as  a  token  of  our  lad  diftrefs.'- 
Inllead  of  anfwering  me,'  which  put'  me  in  -great 
pain,  as  doubting  ^vhether  I  was  right  or  tiot,  (lie 

» turned  to  hernigheft  attendants,  and  laid,'in  a  pretty 
foft   voice—'  '  ris  he  ;  I  know  him  by  his  voice,  as 

*  well  as  drels  :'  and  rifmg  off  her  feat,  came  and  took 
the  ling.  -  Then  looking  attentively  at  it-*-*  Yes,  Sir,' 
faid  (lie,    '  I  own  the  ring  and  bearer,  and  acknow- 

*  ledge  you  to  be  the  perion  who  faved  my  life.  For 

*  which  reafoni  give  you  yours,  and  all  that  belongs 

*  to  you  ;  forbidding  all,  under  pain  of  death,  to  give 

*  you  the  lealt  trouble  -,'  and  withal  grdercd  a  verj^ 


222  CAUDENTIO    DI    LaCCA. 

rich  Turkifli  robe  to  be  thrown  over  my  flioulders, 
as  a  fign  of  her  favour.  Immediate  orders  were  fent 
to  the  port,  to  fet  Monfieur  Godart  and  all  his  crew 
fit  liberty,  and  to  feaft  us  as  particular  friends  of  the 
Grand  Sultancfs.  The  company  being  ditmiired,  flie 
made  a  fign  for  me  to  ftay,  having  further  buHnefs- 
W'ith  me.  When  all  w^eregone  but  two  of  her  chief 
favourite  women,  (lie  came  tome  without  any  cere- 
mony, and  taking  me  in  her  arras,  as  if  I  had  been  her 
brother,  embraced  m.e  with  a  great  deal  of  tender- 
ncfs  ;  hf^r  joy  to  fee  me  making  herlay  afide  her  gran- 
deur, and  yield  to  the  tranfports  of  undilguifed  nature. 
She  ledme  by  the  hand.into  a  raoft  magnificent  apart- 
ment, faying — ^  Come,   Signor  Gaudentio,    for    fo  I 

*  think  you    are    called  ;  after    you   liave   refreftied 

*  yourielf,  you  (liall  tell  me  your  adventures.'  She 
made  no  I'cruple  to  fit  down  with  me,  being  now  not 
only  miftreis  of  herfelf,  but  of  the  whole  Ottoman  em- 
pire, as  well  as  fure  of  her  attendants..  We  had  a  re- 
frediment  of  all  the  rarities  of  the  caft,  with  the 
richeil  wines  for  me,  though  flie  drank   none  herfelf. 

*  1  long  to  hear  your  adventures,'  continued  flie,  '  of 

*  lo  many  years  abfence.'  So  I  told  her,  in  ihort,  h6w 
I  was  carried  by  that  flrange^ merchant  into  an  un- 
known country,  without  telling  her  the  way  we  went 
rhkher,  where   I  had  married  the  regent's  daughter. 
She  blufned  a  little  at.  that  part,. and  fliewed  the  re- 
mains of  all  her  former  beauty.  But  it  put  me  in  mind 
of  my  own  indifcretion  to  touch  on  juch  a  nise  pointi^ 
She  palled  it  off  with  a  great  deal  of  goodnefs  ;  and,, 
reccveriflg  myfelf,  I  continued  to  acquaint  her  of  the 
reafons  of  my  return,  as  well  as  how  I  was  Uikcnby. 
Hamets   the  ftrft   time,  which   (he  had  not  been  ac- 
quainted with  before  ;  and  laiUy,  how  Lmctwith  ibe- 
iume  Harnets  again,  killed  him,  and  by  tliat    meaita 
came  into  that   misfortune.    '  I    called  it  then  a  mif- 

*  fortune  r  faid  I,  but  look  upon  it  now  to  be  one  of  n»y. 

*  greatcil  happinelTcs  i  iloije  by  that  occaiioii  I  hav^ 


GAUDEN-TiO    Df       LUCCA.  ^^j 

*  the  honour  of  feeing  your  highnefs  in  that  dignity 

*  of  wliich  you  are  the   moft  worthy  of  any  one  in  all 
'  the  Ottoman*  empire,' 

She  feemed  to  be  in  admiration  at  the  courfe  of  my 
life,  and  added — '  I  think^  Signor,  you  faid  you  were 

*  married  j  is  your  fpoufe  with  you  V — '  No,  Madam,' 
faid  I:    'alas!   (ha  is   dead,    and    all  my  children; 
'  and  I  am  going  to  retire,  and  lead  a  private  life  in 
'  my  native  country/     With   thefe  and  other  dif- 
Gourfes  we  paffed  the  greateft  part  of  the  day,  when 
flic  bid  me  go  back  to^  the  ftiip  in  public,   attended 
with  all  the  marks  of  her  high  favours  ;  but  flie  faid  (he 
would  fend  for  me  privately  in  the  evening;   *  For,' 
*-  added  file,  '  Ihave  a  thoufand  other  thing  to  afkyou.' 
Accordingly    I    was   introduced  privately    into  the 
feraglio ;  which  Ihe,  being  Sultanefs    regent,    could 
cafily  do.     There  (he  entirely  laidafide  her  grandeur. 
We  talked  all  former  paflages  over  again,  with  the 
freedom  of  friends  and  old    acquaintances.  ■  In  our 
Gonverfation,  I  found  flire  was  a  woman  of  prodigious 
depthof  judgment,  as  indeed  her  wading  through  fo   ' 
many    difficulties,  attending'  the   inconllancy  of  the 
Ottoman  court,  particularly  the  regency,  evidently 
fliewed.  I  made  bold  to  alk  her,  how  flie  arrived  ac 
that  dignity,  though  Ihe  was  the  only  perfon  hi  the  ' 
world  that  deferved  it ;  and  took  the  liberty  to  fav  m 
a  familiar   way,  that   I   believed  her   highnels  was 
BOW  fenfihle  of  the  fervice  I  did  lier,  in  refulingto  com- 
ply wrfh  her  former  demands,  fmce  the  fates  had  re- 
ierved  her  to  be  the  greateft  emprefs  in  the  world 
not  the  confort  of  a  wandering   Have.     Had  I  not 
been  entirely  affured  of  her  goodnefs,  tihould  not 
have  dared  to  have  touched  on  that  head.     She  blulh- 
€d  with  a  little  confuiion   at  firft,  but  putting  it  ofF 
with  a  grave  air — '  Grandeur,'  fays  fhe,  ^  does 'not 

*  alwa}'s  make  people  happy.     I'en  thoufand  cares-^ 

*  attend  a  crown  ;  but  the  indifference  I  have  for  all- 
J  jtiuiijjfi  Bttftkce  ciine  fit  edier  thaii  it  might  have  don«t 


2'l4    -  GAlJDENTIO    DI  LUCCA. 

otherwife.  It  is  true,' continued  (lie,  Uhat  young 
people  veryfelJom  fee  their  own  good,  and  often- 
times run  into  fuch  errors,  by  the  violence  of  their 
palTions^as  not  only  deprive  them  of  greater  bleflings, 
but  render  tlieir  misfortunes  irretrievable.  Some 
time  after  you  were  gone,  my  father  the  Grand  BalTa 
was  accuied,  by  fume  underhand  enemies,  of  mal- 
adminirtration,  a  thing  too  frequent  in  our  court, 
and  privately  condemned  to  be  ftrangled.  But  hav- 
ing fome  truliy  friends  at  the  Porte,  he  had  notice  of 
it,  before  the  orders  came:  he  immediately  depart- 
ed from  Grand  Gairo,  and  took  a  round-about  way 
towards  Conftaniinople,  to  prevent,  as  the  way  rs, 
the  execution  of  them.  -Hefent  me  before  to  pre- 
pare matters,  and  to  intercede  with  the  young  Sul- 
tan, my  late  deceafed  lord,  for  his  life,  leaving  word 
where  I  might  let  him  know  oi:  the  fuccefs  of  my 
interceflion.  I  prefented  myfelf  before  the  Sultan 
with  that  modetl  alTurance,  which  my  innocence, 
my  youth,  and  grief  for  m)'  father's  danger,  gave  me, 
I  fell  down  on  my  knees,  and  with  a  flood  of  tears, 
begged  my  fathers  life.  The  Sultan  looked  at  me 
with  fome  amazement ;  and,  whatever  it  was  he  faw 
in  my  face,  not  only  granted  my  requeft,  and  con- 
firmed my  father  in  his  former  poft,  but  made  a  pro- 
feflion  oflove  to  my  perfon,  and  even  continued  it 
with  more  conftancy  than  J  thought  a  grand  Sultm 
capaple  of,  having  lb  many  exquifite  beauties  to 
divert  him;'  as  they  generally  have.  I  confenttd,  ^ 
to  fave  my  father's  life ;  and  whether  the  indiffer-  '' 
ende  Ihad  for  all  men  made  hiiii  eager,  I  ctinnot 
tell ;  but?  I  found  I  was  the  chief  in  his  fivour.  H« 
had  fame  other  miftrefl'es  now  and  then,  of  whom 
he  as  very  fond.  But  never  teazing  him,  nor  fret- 
ting myfelf  about  it,  I  eafily  found  I  continued  to 
have  the  folrd  part  of  his  friendfliip  ;  and  bringing 
him  the  firft  male  child,  the  prefent  emperor,  I  be- 
came chief  SuItJvnefs  3  and  by  his  death,  ajid  Utf 


GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA.  22^ 

'  minority  of  my  fon,  am  row  regent ;  by  wliich  I  am 

*  capable  of  rendering  you  all  the  fervice  the  Ottoman 
'  empire  can  perform,  which  I  edeem  one  of  the  hap- 

*  pieft  events  of  my  life.'  I  returned  her  the  mod  pro- 
found bow,  jind  humble  thanks  a  heart  full  of  the  moll 
lively  fenfe  of  gratitude  could  profefs.  She  offered 
me  the  firft  poft  of  the  Ottoman  empire,  if  I  would 
but  become  a  Muffulman,  or  only  fo  in  appearance. 

*  Or  if,'  faid  (he,  'you  had  rather  be  nigh  me,  you 
'  fliallbe  the  chief  officer  of  my  houfhold.  I  have 
'  had  afluranee  enough,'  added  (lie,  'that  neither 
'  your  inclinations  nor  principles  can  be  forced  ;   nei- 

*  ther  will  I  endeavour  to  do  it,  but  leave  you  as  much 
'  at  your  liberty  as  your  generous  mafler  did,  when 
^  he  bought  you  of  Haniets.'  I  exprefled  all  tlic  grate- 
ful acknowledgments  poflible  for  fo  generous  an  offer ; 
but  affurcd  her,  with  an  air  that  even  expreffed  forrow 
for  the  refufal,  that  I  lay  under  religious  obligations, 
which  bound  me  indifpenfably  to  return  into  my  own 
country.  She  was  become  now  as  much  miftrefs  of 
her  inclinations,  as  {h6  had  acquired  prudence  and 
experience  by  the  long  command  fhe  had  over  her  huf- 
band's  heart,  and  the  whole  Ottoman  empire.  So 
after  a  month's  (lay,  die  let  me  go,  with  all  the  marks 
of  honor  her  dignity  v/ould  fuffer  her  to  exprefs.  She 
would  have  punifhed  the  perfons  that  took  us,  but  I 
interceded  for  tl^em.  Monfieur  Godart,  who  was 
well  rewarded  for  the  lofs  of  his  time  and  confinement, 
can  tedify  the  truth  of  this  hidory.  The  lad  words 
file  faid  to  me,  were,  to  bid  me  remember,  that  a 
Turk  and  a  women  were  capable  of  generous  grati- 
tude and  honour,  as  w^U  as  Ghridians.  So  v/c  let 
fail  for  Venice. 

\Sccretary,  Here  one  of  the  inquifuors  came  in  with 
a  gold  medal  in  his  hand,  and  turning  to  the  exa- 
minate,  Taid — '  Signor  Gaudentio,  I  believe  you 
'  have  found  a  relation  in  Italy,  as  well  as  in  Afri- 
^  ca,  and  one  of  the  fame  nation  with  your  mother. 


226  CaUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA 

*  It  is  the   Perfian  lady  you  brought  with  you>' 

*  whom  we  fecured  at  the  fame  time  we  did  you  > 
'  but  would  not  let  you  know  it,  till  we  could  pro" 
'  cure  intelligence  from  Venice,  and  a  perfon  who 
'  could  fpeak  the  Perfian  language.  We  own  we 
'  find  her  in  the  fame  ftory  with  you,  and  nothing 

*  material  ag^infl:  you  from    Venice.     Upon  the 

*  examining  her  effc£\s,  we  found  this  medal  of  the 
f  fame  make  with  yours,  by  which  you  knew  who 

*  your  mother  was.  She  fays  it  was  about  herneck, 

*  when  Oic  was  fold  to  the  Perfian  merchant,  But 
'  fmce  we  fliall  give  you  both  your  liberties  in  a 
'  fhort  time,  (he  fliall  be  brought  unto  you,  and  we 

'  give  you  leave  to  fay  what  you  will  to  her,  with  ' 
^  the  interpreter  by.'  Upon  this  the  lady  was  intro- 
duced, v/ith  her  maid  and  the  interpreter.   As  foon 
as  fhe  faw  our  examinate  in  good  health,  andieem- 
ingly  at  liberty,  a  joyful  ferenity  fprcad  itfelfover 
her  countenance,  fuch  as  we  had  not  feen  before.  • 
Our  examinate  afked  her,  to  be  pleafed  to  give  afi  - 
account  of  her  life,  as  far  as  flie  thought  proper,  > 
and  how  flie  came  by  that  medal. 
Lady.  '  All  I  knowofmyfelf,'  faid  (he,  '  is,  that  the  no'.  ■ 

*  ble  Curd,  who  bought  me  of  a  Perfian  merchant " 
'  for  a  companion  for  his  only  daughter,  about  my 

*  own  age,  whom  he  thought  I  refembled  very  much,  • 
'  often  declared  to  me,  that  the  merchant  bought 

'  me  of  a  Turkilh  woman,  wlio  left  that  medal 
'  about  my  neck,  fuppofing  it  to  be  fome  charm  or 

*  prefervative  againlldiftempers,  orbeccuife  a  lifter 

*  of  mine'  had  the  fame  fallened  about  her  neck, 
'  with  a  gold  chain,  which  could  not  be  taken  off 
'  without  breaking  ; but  who,  or  where   the  filler 

*  was,   I  never   knew.     The  noble  Curdifh  lord,  • 

*  who  bought  me,  grew  prodigious  fond  of  me,  and 

*  bred  me  up  as  another   daughter   ;    and  not  only 

*  fo,  but  having  an  only  fon,  fomething  older  than  ' 

*  myle^lf,  he  connived  at  a  growing  love  he  perrceiv^'' 


C^UDENTIO  Dl    LUCC^,  ^^y 

'Cd  between  his  fon  and  myfelf ;  which,  after  fome 
difficulties  on  both  {iles,  at  length  came  to  a  mar- 
riage ;  thoLitjh  it  cofi:  my  generous  benefa<^or  and 
father-in-law  his  life.  For  another  young  lord  of 
Curdiftan,  falling  in  love  with  me,  often  challeng- 
ed Prince  Cali  (that  was  my  dear  hufband's  name) 
to  decide  their  pretenfions  by  the  fword,  wfiich 
I  had  always  forbid  him  to  do  ;  faying,  that  man 
fliould  never  be  my  hufband  who  expofed  my  i:e- 
putation  by  adiiel  ;  fince  the  world  would  never 
believe,  that  any  man  would  expofe  his  life  for  a 
woman,  unlefs  there  had  been  fome  encourage- 
ment given  on  both  fides  ;  whereas  I  never  gave 
theleaitto  any  but  Prince  Cali.  IJowever,  the 
other  met  him  one  day,  and  attacked  him  fo  fu- 
rioufly,  that  Prince  Cali  was  forced  to  kill  him 
in  his  own  defence,  making  a  thoufand  protcfta- 
tionc,  that  he  had  almoft  fuffered  himfelf  to  be 
killed  rather  than  to  difobey  my  orders.  But  the 
father  of  the  prince  who  was  ilain,  with  a  com- 
pany ofaflliffins,laidan  ambufcade  for  Prince  Cali 
and  his  father,  in  which  this  latter  was  killed,  and 
moft  of  his  train.  But  by  the  valour  of  his  fon, 
and  two  of  his  companions,  the  chief  affaflins 
were  laid  dead  on  the  fpot,  and  the  reft  put  to 
flight.  But  Prince  Cali,  after  the  death  of  hi^ 
father,  fearing  further  treachery  of  that  nature, 
prefently  after  we  were  married,  removed  to 
another  part  of  the  kingdom,  from  whence  being 
fent  on  a  commifTion  by  his  king,  he  was  inhu- 
manly mardered  by  the  barbarous  Hamets.  This 
is  the  fum  of  my  unfortunate  life,  till  1  had  the 
good  fortune  to  fa ve  yours.' 
S^ecretary.  We  permitted  the  nephew  and  the  aunt 
(for  fo  they  were  found  to  be  by  the  medal)  to 
embrace  one  another  ;  Signor  Gaudentio  affuring 
iier,  that  by  all  appearance  he  was  the  fon  of  her 
^fter  and  the  mother's  filler  that  was  loft,  and  both 


l-^2S  GAUDENTIO    DI    LUCCA. 

of  them  preferved  to  {"iwq  each  other's  life.     The 
lady  then  declared,  flie  would  turn  Chriftian,  fince 
her  misfortunes  were  come  to  that  perio,cf;    and 
that  fhe  was  refolved  to  leave  the  world,  and  retire 
into  fome  of  ourmonafterits.     We  put  her  among 
the  nuns  of  our  order,  where  (he  promifes  to  be  a 
jignal  example  of  virtue  and  piety.     The   Inquifi- 
tors  ordered  the  cxawiinate  to  give  them    the   re- 
maining part  of  his  life,  which,  in  all   aj)pearance, 
if  they  found  his  Itory  to  agree  with  their  informa- 
tions, might  purchafe  him  liis  liberty.   Upon  which 
Gaudentio  proceeded  as  foUows.J 
I  was  telling  your  Reverences,  that  at  length   we 
fet  fail  from  the  Port,  and  ftceredour  courfe  dire(^ly 
for  Venice,  where  we  happily  arrived,   without  any 
confiderable  accident,  the  icth  of  ]3ecember  1712. 
I  do  not  queftion  but  your   Reverences  are    already 
informed,  that  fuch  perl'ons  did  arrive  at  Venice  about 
that  time.     MonfieurGodart  is  well  known  to    feve- 
ral  merchantSj^and  fome  of  tlic  fenators  of  that  famous 
city,  whom  he  informed  of  what  he  fawwith  his  own 
eyes.     But  there  were  fome  particular  paflTages,  un- 
known to  your  Reverences,  wherein  I  had  like  to  have 
made  a  fliipwreckofmylife,  after  fo   many    dangers; 
as  I  did  here  of  my  liberty  ;  though  I  do  not  complain, 
but  only  rtprefent  my  hard  fortune   to  your  Rever- 
ences confideration.     It  happened  to  be  the  carnival 
time  during  our  flay  at  Venice.     Curiofity  led  m8,  as 
well  as  a  great  many  other  Grangers  of  the  firil:  rank, 
to  Ice  the  nature  of  it.     I  put  on  my  Mezoranian  ha' 
bit,  fpangled  with  funs  of  gold,  and  the  fillet-crown  on 
my  head,  adorned  with  feveral  jewels   of  very  great 
value,  which  I  believe  was  the  moll  remarkable  and 
magnificent  drefs  of  any  there.     1  went  unmafqued, 
being  afTured  my  face  and  perfon  were   unknown   to 
ail  that  world.     Every  one's  eyes  were  upon  me.— 
Several  of  the  mafqaeraders  came  up  to  me,  and  talk- 
>  cd  to  me,  particularly  the  ladies.     They  fpoketo  mc 


6AUDENTI0    DI    LUCCA,  £29 

111  fcveral  languages,  as  Latin,  French,  Italian,,  Span •• 
irii,  Hi^h  Dutch,  &c.     I  anfvvered   them  all  in  the 
Mezoranian  language,  which  leemed  as    flrange  to 
them  as  my  drefs.     Some  of  them'  fpoke  to  me  in  th©- 
Turkifh  and  Perlian  languages,  in  Lingua  Franca,  and 
fome  in  an  Indian  language  I  really  did  not  underftand, 
1  anfwered  them  ftill  in  Mezoranian,  of  which  nobody.  ^ 
knew  one  word.  'Two  ladies  particularly,  very  rich- 
ly dre  (Ted,  followed  me  wherever  I  went,    'The  one, 
as  it  proved  afterwards,  was   Favilla,  the  celebrated 
cotirte^an,  in  the  richeft  drefs  of  all  tlie  Company  j  the 
other  was  the,  lady  who  was  with  me  When  I  was  ta- 
ken up,  and  who  was  the  occafion  of  ray  .-fettling  at 
Bologna;    i  mean   the  true  occafion,  for  I  will  con- 
ceU  nothing  from  your  Reverences.     Notwithftand- 
ing  their  diligence,  I  got  away  unknown  at  that  time. 
The  next  time  I  came,  I  appeared  in  the  fame  drefs, 
but  with  richer  jewels.    T  had  more  eyes  upon   me 
now  than  before.    'The  courtezan  purmed  me  again 
in  a  different,  but  richer  drefs  than  the  former.     At 
length  {|ie  gotme  by  myfelf,  and  pulling ofFhermafqucj 
fhewedniea  wonder^  pretty  face,   only  there   was 
too  fierce  an  afTurance  in  it. '  'She  cried  in  Italian — - 

*  O  Signor,  you  are  not  fo  ignorant  df  our  language, 
'  as  you  would  feem  td  be  !  you  can  f peak  Italian  and 
^  French  too  ;  though  we  do  not  know  who  you  are, 
.^^  we  have  learnt  you  are  a  man  6f  honour. '  If  yon 
]^, would  not underiland  bur  "Words,  'you  may  under- 
r*  fland  a  face,  which  very  great  peribnages  have  beei^ 

*  glad  to  look  at;'  and  with  that  put  on  one  of  the 
moil  ehfnaring  au's  I  ever  faw.    "I  do  not  doubt  but 

.  your  Reverences  have  heard  of  that  famous  court6- 
zan,  and  how  the  greateft  man  in  Venice  was  once 
her  flave.  I  was  juft  going  to  anlwer  her,  when  the 
other  lady  came  up,  and  pulling  off  her  mafque  alfo, 
faid  aimoft  the  fame  things,  but  with  a  modelty  more 
graceful  than  her  beauty,  which  Wii5  »Qit  exquifite, 

¥ 


ijO         ,         eAUDLNTTO    DI    LUCCA^" 

arjd  the  likeft  the  incomparable  Ilyphena  I  ever  faw. 
I  made  them  both  a  moll  refpeftful  bow,  and  told  thern 
that  it  had  b'jen  much  fafer  for  me  if  I  had  kept  my- 
felf  ftill  unknown,  and  never  feen  fuch  dangerous 
charms.  I  pronounced  thefe  words  with  an  air  that 
fhewed  that  I  was  more  pleafed  with  the  modefty  of 
the  laft  lady  than  the  commanding  afliirance  of  the 
firft.  The  courtezan,  though  a  little  nettled  at  the 
preference  (he  thought  I  gave  the  other,  put  on  sL 
more  ferious  air,  and  faid  flie  had  been  informed  there 
was  fomething  very  extraordinary  in  my  chara£ler, 
and  fhould  be  glad  to  hear  more  of  it  by  herl'elf  i  that 
her  name  was  Favilla,  and  that  flie  lived  in  fuch  a 
ftreet,  where  I  fhould  find  her  houfe  remarkable  e- 
nough.  The  Bclognian  lady,  whom  your  Reveren- 
ces knew  very  well,  and  who  was  then  at  Venice  on 
account  of  the  death  of  her  uncle,  one  of  the  fenators, 
ivho  had  left  her  all  his  effects,  faid  modeftly,if,  were 
I  to  fa\our  her  with  a  vifit,  as  flie  had  been  informed 
that  I  was  a  learned  man  and  a  virtuofo,  being  in- 
clined that  way  herfelf,  flie  fliouldbe  glad  of  an  hour's- 
conyerfation  with  me  on  that  fubje<^,  telling  me  her 
name  and  where  fhe  lived ;  adding,  if  I  would  inform 
mvfelf  of  her  chara^er,  I  need  not  beafliaraed  of  hei* 
acquaintance.  '  Nor,  I  hope  of  mine,  Madam,*  fays 
the  other,  thinkingfhe  had  been  rcfleded  on  by  that 
word.  It  was  Monfieur  Godart,  who,  with  a  levity 
■peculiar  to  his  nation,  had  made  the  diicovery  who  I 
was,  though  he  knew  nothing  of  me  but  what  paffed 
fmce  I  came  from  Grand  Cairo.  I  Was  going  to  re- 
lAy  to  the  ladies,  when  company  came  up  and  broke 
off  the  diicourfe  ;  I  was  refolved  to  fee  neither  of 
them,  and  would  go  no  more  to  the  affenibly,  though, 
almofl  unavoidably,  I  faw  both  afterwards.  I  enquir- 
ed into  Favilla's  character,  though  I  fcJirce  doubted 
ot  it  by  what  IfaW  and  heard,  and  was  informed  that 
Ibe  was  an  iinperious  couttezaTi,'  Whfo  hid  enflarv^ed 
ieveral  perfons  gf  the  firft  rank,  of  diflferpt  naUpns, 


GAUPE  NTIO    DI    LUCCA.  ^^l 

and  enriched  herfelf  by  their  fpoils ;  this  determined 
me  not  to  fee  her :  but,  as  Monfieur  Godart  and  my- 
felf  were  walking  to  fee  the  town,  he  brought  me, 
either  induftrioufiy  or  accidentally,  by  her  door  ;  flie 
was  fitting  at  the  window  of  one  of  the  mod  magni- 
ficent palaces  in  Venice,  (fuch  fpoils  had  Ihe  reaped 
from  her  bewitched  lovers.)  As  foon  as  (he  efpied 
me,  (he  fent  a  fervant  to  tell  me  that  the  lady  would 
fpeak  with  me.  I  made  forae  difficulty,  but  Mon- 
fieur Godart,  told  me,  a  man  of  honour  could  not  re; 
fufe  fuch  a  favour  as  that  :  fo  I  went  in,  and  Mon- 
fieur Godart  with  me.  The  lady  received  me  with  a 
moft  charming  agreeable  air,  much  different  from  her 
former  aflurance,  and  eondu6led  me  into  a  moft  mag- 
nificent apartment,  leaving  Monfieur  Godart  enter* 
taining  a  very  pretty  lady,  her  companion.  Not  to 
detain  your  Reverences  too  long,  when  I  would  not 
underftand  what  (lie  meant,  (lie  offered  me  marriage, 
with  the  inheritance  of  all  her  effe^s.  I  was  put  up 
to  the  laft  nonplus  J  I  affured  her  with  a  moft  pro- 
found bow,  that  though  I  was  not  worthy  of  fuch  9, 
happinefsj  I  had  an  indiipenfible  obligation  never  to 
marry.  All  the  blood  immediately  came  into  her 
face  :  I  did  tiot  know  what  (he  was  going  to  do,  but 
finding  her  in  that  diforder,  I  made  another  bow,  fay* 
ing  I  would  conlider  further  on  her  ])ropofal ;  and 
walked  dire£lly  out  of  the  houfe,  defigning  to  leave 
Venice  as  foon  as  my  affairs  would  give  me  leave. — 
Some  time  after  Monfieur  Godart  came  to  me,  and 
told  me  he  was  forced  to  do  as  I  did  ;  that  the  lady 
was  in  fuch  an  outrageous  fury,  he  did  not  know  what 
might  be  the  confequence.  Three  nights  after,  as 
Monfieur  Godart  and  a  young  kinfman  of  his,  and 
myfelf,  were  going  towards  the  Rialto,  in  the  du{k  of 
the  evening,  four  ruffians  attacked  us  unawares  :  two 
of  them  fet  upon  me,  the  other  two  attacked  Mon- 
fieur Godart  and  his  kinfman  ;  the  .poor  young  gen- 
tleman was  run   through  the  body  the  firft  pulh  ;  J 


232  CAUDENTrO    DF    LUCCA.' 

made  flilft  to  didible  one   of  my  adveriaiics,  but  in 
doing  it,  the  other  run  me  through  tlie  ribs  ;  but  the 
fword  took  only  part  of  my  body,  and  milhug  my  en- 
trails, the  point  went  out  on  the  fide  of  my  back.— 
Monlieur  Godart,  who,  to  give  him  his   due,  behaved! 
with  a  great  deal  of  courage  and  bravery,  had  killed 
one  of  his  men,  and  wounded  the  other ;  and  the  ruf- 
fians feeing  us  now  two  to  two,  thought  fit  to  march 
off  as  well  as  they  could.     I  was  forced  to   be  led  to 
my  lodging,  not  doubting  but  the  wound  was  mortal, 
though  it  proved  otherwife.     The  affair  made  a  great 
.noife  about  town  :  we  very  ra-tionally  fuppofed  it  \yas 
Favilla,  whohad  fet  the  affaffins  on  ;  but  we  knew  her 
to  be  fo  povverfql  with  the  fenators,  that  there  was  no 
hopes  of  jufticc.     While! was  recovering,  1  was  told 
there  was  a  lady  with  two  waiting  wonien,  defued 
to  fee  me  on  very  earneft  bufmefs,  if  it  would  not  be 
incommodious  to  me.     (Monfieur  Godart  would  not 
ftir  from  my  l:ed-fidc,  for  fear  of  accidents.)     Who 
.  ihould  this  be  but  Favilla,  who  came  all  in  mourning 
for  my  misfortune !  I  pretended  to  be  a  dying  man, 
arid  took  the  liberty  of  telling  lier  of  her  way  of  li\- 
ing,  to  what  a  difmal  pafs  her  paffions    had  brought 
j  lier  ;  in  fipie,  I  faidfo  much,  and  begged   her,  by  all 
that  was  dear  to  her,  to'cbnflder  her  ftate,  that,  burft- 
Ing  in'to'a  flood  of  tears,  ihe  promiTed  me,  if   I  died, 
'file  would  become  a  penitent  nun.     I  effecled  ih  much 
by"  letters  afterwards,  that,  though  I  recovered,  ihe 
performed  her  promife. 
'        The  Bolognian  lady  had  heard  of.  my  misfortune  ; 
and,  by  a  goodnefs  peculiar  to  the  tender  fex,  particu- 
larly with  regard  to  U rangers,  the  lent  often  to  know 
how  I  did,  with  preicnts  of  the  iichefl  cordials    that 
could  be  got  In  Venice.      Finding  my  illnefs  continued 
longer  than  was  ex p^£led,  file   fent   me  word,  that 
though  it  was  not  fo  decent  for  her  to  make  the  firft 
vifit,  flie  had  heard  io  much    of  my   adventures,   as 
very  much  railed  her  curiofity  to  hear  them  from  my 


l5AtTDENTI0   DI   LUCCA.  ^3^ 

Own  mouth,  when  I  was  capable  oF  converfation 
"Vv.ithout  doing  me  any  prejudice.  I  had  informed 
myfelf  of  her  character  from  very  good  hands  ;  fo  that 
I  was  very  curious  to  converie  mth  a  perfon  of  thofe 
incomparable  talents  I  heard  llie  was  miftrefs  of.  She 
wa^  the  only  woman  next  to  Ifyphena,  and  the  great 
BaflTa's  daughter,  I  ever  much  liked  in  my  life.  To 
fum  up  all  in  Ihort,  (he  came  feveral  times  to  fee  me, 
infomuch  that  we  contracted  the  moft  virtuous  friend- 
Ihip,  by  our  mutual  inclinations  to  learning  and  the 
fym'pathy  of  our  tempers,  that  ever  fubiiftod  between 
two  perlons  of  different  fexes.  .  It  was  on  her  account 
I  refolved  to  fettle  at  Bologna ;  and  having  fome 
knowledge  in  nature  and  phyhc,  1  took  on  me  that 
character,  to  bie  the  oftenfer  in  her  company  without 
fcandal.  ^  We  were  neither  of  us  inclined  to  marry. 
As  (lie  is  one  of  the  moft  virtuous  women  living,  and 
I  am  pretty  much  advanced  in  years,  being  both  en- 
tirely mafters  of  ourfelves,  we  thought  our  innocent 
friendfhip  could  be  offenfive  to  no  one.  What  has 
pafledfmcel  cam^  to  tbi?  tp.vvn;^  I^do  not  doubt  but 
your  Reverences  are  apprized  of. 

This  is  a  true  and  full  account  of  my  life  hitherto. 
Whatever  is  blameable  in  it,  I  hope  your  Reverences 
will  pardon,  as  I  fubmic  it  entirely  to  )'Our  judge- 
ment. 

[Secretary,  As  I  had  the  honour  to  inform  you  be- 
fore, we  enquired  into  all  thefe  fadls,  which  he  faid 
happened  to  him  in  the  company  of  Monfieur  Go- 
dart  ;  which  finding  to  be  true,  we  judged  the  reft 
might  be  fo.     We  afkcd  him  if  he.  would  conduA 

\  fome  of  our  milfionaries  to  that  ftrange  country  he 
mentioned  ;  he  told  us  he  would.  But  not  willing 
to  truft  him  entirely,  as  not  knowing  what  he  might 
do  with  them  when  he  had  them  in  unknown  coun- 


^34  GAUDENT^O^  pi    LVqCAy, 

tries,  we  thought  fit  to  give  him  his  liberty  firll  to 
go  where  h«  would,  e\^en  put  of  Itply,  with  ajOfuranr 
ces,  if  he  came  back  of  his  own  accord,  we  would 
fend  millionarie?  ulong  with  him.  He  went  to  Ve- 
nice and  Genoa  about  his  concerns^  and  is  now 
come  back,  and  is  v»^ith  us  ;  fo  that  we  believe  the 
<:  iman  to  be  what  he  really  profeffe?  himfelf  to  be. 


F  I  N  I  S. 


Date  Due 

■  t    itO^*3Vl 

^•e^Af 

P\\\[^?/^P'r\' 

f/<f 

3-DAY  RF? 

FRVF 

Form  335.     45M  8- 

37. 

%l 


3-23.59     B511A       275583 


